Gretchen's Travels

New Year's Resolution

2012-01-16T09:01:00.007-05:00

So it's been entirely too long since I wrote on here. Yes, I was back in the hospital again for a 3-day stint. This time, Three nurses blew out 4 veins. I'm still bruised and swollen and feel worse then when I went in the hospital to begin with.

I don't know what the new year is to bring, but I do know it's more pain and torture. My goal for this year is to try and write here at least once a week. Would like to do more, but I don't turn on the laptop that often anymore. I received a Kindle Fire for Chistmas. I love it. I have dozens of books and games downsloaded already. Has anyone received one?

We lost our beloved Golden Retriever Aphrodite to lung cancer a few months ago and I can't get over the loss. She was the sweetest little gilr. Never asked a thing but a plavce on our lap and a cookie or two. Then a couple weeks later, our handster Yuri went to the Rainbow Bridge to wait for us. Everytime I looat at my photos and see my precious Adonis, I just want to be with him again. I don't have any friend, he has my one and only. I miss him so.

I got hubby a DVD set of all of the Star Trek movies. He's a Trekkie forever. We're on the movie where fist contact with the vulcans are made. Remember it? My favorite is the Whales' movies. The best one I've see. We just finished the one where they went into the Nexus. I cried the entire time. I would do just about anything to go there. Even thought it's not real, it would be real enough for me. Only someone who has lost so much and has suffered so much could ever undertand.

I hope everyone had a wonderful 2012 and all your hopes and dreams can cpme true!

G

I'm back!

2012-01-06T22:09:00.002-05:00

Ok, so it seems like I've fallen off the face of the earth, but in truth Heath has taken control. I spent the past few nthe hospital hospital. The nurses blew four veins & my hands are swollen and bruised.

I'm trying to get my life life back slowly. Went to visit my beautiful college student yesterdatmy. I miss her so much! She surprised me with a Thor ornament - my favorite of the Norse gods as well as a gorgeous bead for my bracelet. I wear it all the time. It was a get well soon gift. Not necessary, bit truly appreciated.

Tomorrow I'm spending the day with my son. We're not given a number of days and I want him to have memories of us. Maybe we'll go go a movie or just out to eat.

I'm working on his junior year scrapbook, so he can look back & see how much I Love him. I finished Arielle's senior book and need to start her college one soon.

Thanks for listening to my rambling. I hope I've inspired one one you to create a book to leave to your children or grandchildren. Its important for future generations to know they're loved.

I'll try & update more often.

G
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A birthday wish

2011-09-22T22:38:00.002-04:00

Today is my precious Michael's birthday. He should be 23, married with kids or in college somewhere. We can't have the party we want, because we lost him 5 years ago. Now we have to go to his grave for the happy birthday wishes.

I would give almost anything to change that horrible day in March, but I don't have any candles of my own to make that wish.

I love you, Michael, and will forever and a day.

Wordless Wednesday - animal theme

2011-08-10T22:35:00.003-04:00

I need a new body transplant

2011-07-13T15:34:00.003-04:00

You see it on TV all the time, people have a problem, they just make an appointment and change their nose, face, etc... Well, my problem is my whole body. Do they do that yet?

Besides the nightmare of the migraines, I'm dealing with a horrid right shoulder. Saw the bone doctor today. I had my left shoulder operated on about 4 years ago, so when I started having pain in the right one, I got worried. I ignored the pain as long as I could, then went to see a bone doc. He did an exam and sent me for physical theraphy. It's helping, but not quite fast enough. It's either a "frozen shoulder" or my rotator cuff is torn. Either way, it hurts!!!

The bone doc is now sending me to get an MRI on Friday. Not looking foward to being stuck in a coffin for 25 or so minutes. I'm suppose to bring a CD or my iPod to keep my calm while in there. I think my music choices will scare the technician, so I better go through and take some things off. Going from Pavaratti singing Ave Maria to Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People and then maybe Elvis or Rammstein's Engel (Angel) or Du Hast (You Hate). I have quite a bit of German heavy metal.

So now I have to bribe someone into driving me there (about 20 minutes), sitting there for the half hour, then back home again. Thankfully, my daughter or son are happy to be bribed with McDonald's or Wendy's.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T14:34:00.002-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-29T12:50:00.001-04:00

Tuesday's Reflection

2011-06-21T20:41:00.002-04:00

It's getting time to start camping again. For me, being alone in the forest with my family is the best part. I love watching the kids cook hotdogs and burn marshmellows. The fire pit is the central part of any good camping trip. We gather around it to eat, of course to cook, but also at night just to talk. What would a trip be without a crackling fire?

I spend a lot of time photographing the fire. The images it forms always tell a story. If you look at this one, it's obvious that a dragon was near by. Can you see the image in the flames? He's leaning back his head and breathing fire. What do you see in the fire? Is it the dragon I see?

The Green Lantern

2011-06-20T17:34:00.004-04:00

As a special treat, we went to eat at Red Lobster and then went to the movies yesterday to celebrate Fathers' Day and my birthday. My parents and brother Todd met us at the resteraunt, then they went home. Arielle went, too. She wasn't interested in the movie. We thought The Green Lantern looked pretty good, but boy were we wrong! It was a disaster. I literally fell asleep during the movie. We rarely go to the movies because it costs a fortune to get in and get a popcorn and cup of Coca Cola to share.

We thought Ryan Reynolds could pull it off, but he just wasn't meant to be a super hero. I can't find words low enough to describe how bad the movie was. There were a few laughs in it, but they were few and far between. If you're a super hero fan, wait til it comes out on DVD and borrow it from the library. It's not worth $10 a ticket to see. :( Now I have to wait til July 15 for the final Harry Potter movie. That will be worth the price to get in. Then the real wait begins for the final two Twilight: Breaking Dawn movies and The Hobbit!! :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-15T22:50:00.004-04:00

Thank you, Elizabeth!!!

2011-06-15T22:39:00.004-04:00

I was catching up on my favorite blogs and saw where Elizabeth at Six Golden Coins ( http://sixgoldencoins.blogspot.com/) posted about lavendar-scented yoga eye pillows. I mentioned how much I would like one for my many hospital visits.

Not long after that comment, I found a package in my mailbox. It was one of the hand made pillows as well as several other goodies from Elizabeth. It was a bad day for me, one where moving was almost more than I could do. I started crying, of course. This wonderful woman has never met me and out of the blue, she sends me a care package that made my entire month!

She included a beautiful hand made journal. I'm using it as my pain journal. Our regular doctor suggested I keep one. He says there's nothing left for him to do for me, so this is as good as my life is going to get.

I can't thank you enough, Elizabeth! You have truly made my month and I will think of you and your kindness every time I use the pillow, journal or other goodies!

Happy 19th Birthday, Arielle!!!!

2011-06-06T00:10:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Arielle!!!

19 years ago today, I was given the greatest gift (until my second greatest gift arrived 2 1/2 years later) when my daughter Arielle was born. I've talked about her quite a bit recently since she graduated from high school last week and will soon be off to college.

Arriving at a bit under 7 pounds, she made up for her pint size body with killer blue eyes and the most beautiful face I'd ever seen. She was an emergency C-section. She was late, but when she decided it was time to make her grand entrance into the world, she was in a hurry to arrive.

My life changed in ways I can't ever explain to someone who hasn't experienced the joy and heartache being a mother can be. I'd never want anything else. I'll never stop worrying about her, but I'm as ready as I can be to let her try her wings.

Now I turn the reigns over to my girl. Look out world, here she comes!

Camera Critters #165

2011-06-05T19:38:00.002-04:00

When we were coming home from the flea market yesterday, we saw this pretty bird waiting on our porch. Guess he knew I needed a model for today's Camera Critters?

For more of the best animal photographs from around the globe, stop over to Camera Critters' central at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 47

2011-06-03T19:12:00.004-04:00

Time for the weekly Skywatch Friday meme and my entry for the week is a shot I took of Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. I took the shot while we were on a Duck Boat Tour earlier this week. If you're in the City and have an hour, this is one of the best tours around! No, I'm not a Duckboat spokeswoman (Quack Quack Quack) and they aren't compensating me in any way, I just truly enjoyed the trip.

If you want to see more of the best sky shots in the world, stop by Skywatch Friday central at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com/

Another page in the Book of Life has Turned

2011-06-03T18:47:00.006-04:00

My beautiful 18-year old daughter Arielle has made another step in life when she graduated from high school over the weekend. Yes, the tears were there, but I was so proud to see this gorgeous, confident girl walk across the stage to recieve her diploma. School was never easy and the School District made it harder than necessary many times, but that is all let go now. She's free! She received that diploma that is so important in life.

Randy and I sat in the front row with the other reporters and professional photographers that were hired to document the event. That's one nice part of my job, a shiny press pass! :) Trevor and Todd sat together and filmed the event. My parents and aunt were further back. Randy's mother had fallen earlier in the month and she was in the nursing home and unable to attend. Sadly, his brother and sister-in-law weren't interested in attending.

I've talked about her many times over the years I've written in this blog. She's been my best friend since birth. We look so much alike, people mistake us for each other. Thanks to Austin Powers, I have a response, "Yes, I cloned her! I call her 'Mini Me!!'"

I homeschooled her for several years and we enjoyed trips to Gettysburg, New Hampshire, Salem, Harrisburg, etc.... as part of her education. She has chosen to become a massage therapist. She made that decision because of my health issues and her grandmother's many health issues. She has chosen to devote her life to helping ease the suffering of others because of what she sees on a daily basis. That shows the heart my girl has.

Following the ceremony, we went out to eat with Trevor, my parents, brother Todd and aunt Judy who came to attend the event. She never misses one of my kids events. It wouldn't be right to have her not be there.

I want to congratulate all the graduates of the Class of 2011!!! You've worked hard and deserve to enjoy your summer before you head off to college, the armed forces, getting married or joining the work force. Don't forget your parents. They were there through the good and bad. Those all night final cramming sessions or 5th grade science projects wouldn't have been done without them. Make sure to give them a thank you as well.

We'll have a large party for her later this summer when her grandmother is able to attend. We'll combine it with her birthday and going away party and her cousin Jessamy's graduation as well. One big, loving family always. :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-25T15:26:00.001-04:00

Thor really rocks!

2011-05-24T13:42:00.004-04:00

Since things have been so rough around here lately, I wanted to give the kids a treat and took them to see a movie over the weekend. We chose Thor and WOW was it awesome! Anyone seen it yet? Randy wasn't feeling up to going and urged me to just take the kids. With Arielle graduating this weekend, I want to spend as much time as possible with her. She'll be leaving for college in two months. Need to build up all those last minute memories.

I've always loved the Norse God of Thunder. He's been seen in various forms on film from the cartoon versions to Adventures in Babysitting and now the current movie. Each version showed the unbelievable muscles, gorgeous face and long blonde hair.

When so many movies make us walk out wishing we'd saved the $50 and bought a video game instead, its nice to enjoy it and not regret the cost. I can't recommend the movie enough. There were lots of laughs, cringes and outright cheers during the movie. If you want to escape reality for a bit, I'd suggest this is the movie you want to see. The only part that made me slap my forhead and yell "NO!" was when they made Loki the stolen baby of a frost giant. The story didn't need to be made up.

I'll be buying the movie as soon as it comes out on Blue Ray. Probably around Christmas it should be out.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-18T22:01:00.003-04:00

Hottest Supe?

2011-05-17T00:56:00.006-04:00

OK, I was reading posts the other day and one really got me thinking (hard as that is to believe, I know, I know). What is the current favorite Supernatural creature?

It was vampires or werewolves (and will be again as soon as Breaking Dawn is released or True Blood premieres on June 26), then zombies came into play. What do you think?

I have tons of I LUV VAMPIRES things and one I RUN WITH WOLVES teeshirt, but have been finding a few I LUV ZOMBIES things. Found a cute jelly bracelet the last time I was at the mall and picked up a zombie tee shirt, too from everyone's favorite A&E show. Then there are fairies. I have a bunch of fairy tee shirts and one really cute purse. Are witches counted as supernatural? I have way too many witchy things, cuz, well you know.

So, my question to all is, What is YOUR favorite supernatural being?

I love them all and I really love that in this environment, I can finally find clothes, jewelry and other accessories that let me show off my love for the supernatural!

Camera Critters #162

2011-05-15T14:55:00.003-04:00

While waiting for the prom kids to show up at our town's gazebo, I found a new little model and had fun watching him running around the tree. Since it's time for Camera Critters, it was perfect timing!

To see more animals from around the world, stop over at Camera Critters Central at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/ to see them.

2011 Senior Prom

2011-05-15T14:48:00.005-04:00

Last night was the senior prom for many teens throughout the nation. My daughter was one of those lucky kids. Sadly, the school refused to allow her boyfriend to attend because he was the ancient age of 21.

Nothing could keep her from attending this right of passage though, so she went with a couple of her friends and had a blast. My parents and Trevor went with me to take photos of her and her friends. Our last chance to see her before the dancing melts her make up.

There are now only two weeks left before she graduates from high school and another milestone in her life. I have to enjoy the last few minutes before she's officially an adult and ready to head off to college.

Skywatch Friday

2011-05-13T15:56:00.002-04:00

This photo was taken out the window of the Diamondview Restaurant, the former St. Marys Country Club.

For more sky scenes from around the world stop over at Sky Watch Central at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com/

The Fairy Tale is Back!

2011-04-30T13:50:00.009-04:00

When commoner Kate Middleton married Prince William and became forever known as Princess Catherine, little girls all over the world began to once again dream of their own prince. If we're honest without ourselves, most little girls dream of that handsome prince, riding a white horse who comes along and rescue us. We'e married in a huge wedding and live happily forever after in a castle.

We cheered when Diana Spencer got married to Prince Charles (even though he was entirely too old for her and clearly didn't love her), then cried when her marriage fell apart. Hearing her heartbreak as she talked about having "three people" in her marriage wasn't part of our dreams. Where is the fairy tale prince who promised to love her for life? Sadly, that life ended in a mass of twisted steel in a tunnel in Paris, far from her boys and the storybook ending we all wanted.

We cried as we saw Princes William and Harry walking behind their mother's casket on the way to her funeral and cheered as their uncle vowed to not let the same happen to them. They would know their mother and not become part of the machine that destroyed her.

Now we flash forward to William, all grown up and handsome in his military uniform, the spitting image of his mother as he nervously bit his lip while waiting for his bride to walk down the aisle.

The ceremony was beautiful and the ride to the palace was everything we expected. Lots of pagentry, white horses and cheering crowds. We waiting breathlessly while the formal photos were taken, then it was time for the first kiss. The part we'd been waiting for.

Now we can wish them well and hope their happily ever after is truly that - happy!

My newest nightmare

2011-04-20T11:08:00.002-04:00

I've been hesitant to post about this becuase it's embarassing, but I realize that just lets the guilty off easy. I have to stand up for my rights and those of us who might not have the same strength or platform as I do.

I went to our local pharmacy to pick up my many prescriptions I need on a daily basis just to survive. Not live, mind you, just survive. From my blog, you know of my health struggles over the past three plus years. As I'm standing in line, the entire pharmacy area is standing-room-only, I hear the clerk say, "Do we have to call the Secret Service to get this refilled?" At the same time, she's holding up the little red basket with my prescription as well as a bottle in it with my name on it. The pharmacist looks over and smirks as well. Then he notices me and turns his head. I'm cringing and want the floor to open up and swallow me. It's my bottle and prescription. It's me they're making fun of!

I didn't attack them or even say a word about what was said when I picked up my order, but ran out as fast as possible. It was too embarassing and I didn't want to draw more attention to myself. Today, I had to go back in and get monthly refills. The clerk isn't there, but the pharmacist is. I ask to quietly speak to him in private. I'm already embarassed enough and didn't want to make a huge public issue if something could be worked out.

He denied it happened and said he didn't remember it and didn't even know who I was. Of course, once I said my name, the story changed to he always makes sure he immediately works on my order since I've had trouble with them before losing orders and I get so many items filled every month. He still denied remembering a thing about it. I asked if it were the least bit funny and how horrible I feel walking in there now. If they are brazen enough to laugh at my health's expense when I'm standing right there, what do they say behind my back? What about other customers who have the misfortune of needing to go out of town to specialists and need the refills called in? Who will speak for them? I might not have a million followers here, but the ones who do read regularly are smart, literate and I trust you to tell me who is out of line in this.

There's my story. The comments are open for people to give their thoughts. If I'm wrong and it's perfectly ok what was done, I want to know. Maybe I am just too sensitive? If I'm right, what do I do now? I've asked that the clerk never touch my medical information again, but the damage is already done. I honestly don't feel comfortable going there and now I'm going to have to find a new pharmacy (and I live in a VERY small town) to fill my extensive health needs every month. I'm worried about who else they've told the story to and who all is laughing at me. As I said, this is a small town.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-19T21:46:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T07:09:00.004-04:00

Local church receives a face lift

2011-04-01T16:45:00.006-04:00

I think I can let the genie out of the bottle and post a few photos of the uber secret renovation work done on a local church. I doubt many of the parishioners or even local residents regularly read here. If I'm wrong, make sure to drop me a note. :)

I just finished the article for the morning's paper and was going through the photos to pick the one that will go with it. I realized just how gorgeous it was and had to share with others. The rest of the town won't be able to see it until April 14 at their re-dedication ceremony, so consider yourselves special insiders!

The ceremony is open to the public and begins with a Mass at 7 p.m. A meet and great is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. in their social hall. If you're going, please let me know. Would love to add your photo here and maybe in the paper (If you'll pose with the Bishop).

The church is St. Leo Magnus Roman Catholic Church and the $1 million renovation was thanks to the generosity of Rose and Denny Heindl. They are very community-minded and regularly donate to the school, community and their church. They are also just nice people. I talked to Rose this morning when she called about my health. Not something that is necessary, but she's just such a sweetheart.

So, enough of that and onto the photos:

IWC - Pro Rasslin at it's finest?

2011-03-20T09:37:00.009-04:00

My brother Todd came home for a visit last night and to bring back our glory years, we found a live pro wrestling show and headed out. My kids were off doing their thing, Randy was working, so I decided to have fun. I did change out of the smokey clothes.

The show was the IWC and at first glance, I didn't recognize any of the athletes. Don't make the mistake of thinking just because it's not 100% legit, that these men and women aren't some of the finest athletes you'll ever meet. Even the doughy-looking pudge balls who are there for comic relief are athletes. You try and do what they do for 20 minutes and we'll see if you are still standing after 5 minutes.

Yes, I suppose I should disclose that I did work as a "manager" or a "valet" for a wrestler many years ago, pre-children, of course. That meant I wore a very tight leather top and a very short leather skirt with black hose and high heels. Of course, I had piles of bleached blonde hair. My name? Well, remember, you asked. I was "The Voluptous Miss Candy!" Nothing is sweeter! Yeah, I'll dig out some photos when I think about it.

My brother also got his day in the ring. He was injured during training and that ended his career. He hit his head after taking a fall and ended up with a bleed in his brain. Thus ended the stellar career of The Living Legend Hollywood Johnny Tambo. Yes, there will also be photos of him.

Back to our night in Clearfield. I buy my ticket, something I haven't done in about 20 years, but tonight I was just a fan. I go to find my seat, there was no Section D, Row 2, Seat 17. SIGH! The night is not looking good for me. The kid sitting in the last seat, was maybe 20 and I told him that means I have to sit on his lap. I thought he was going to cry, so I left him with his red face and all his friend laughing at him. They give me a new seat with the wives/girlfriends of the wrestlers and the announcer. "Hi, Jen!!!"

There is an old joke in the sport, "What has 10 teeth and an IQ of 30? The first three rows at ringside at any pro wrestling show." Sadly, the show prooved it all too real. There were young kids (7, maybe 8) who were so vulgar and their parents were smiling and encouraging it! WHY??? My child talks like that or makes the infamous "Suck It" movements, they're in time out for a couple years! But this is pro rasslin and that behavior is expected.

The undercard was as expected. Kids trying to get a break. They know a few moves, but can't really sell them. (Make them look even remotely believable) They might as well be on a loudspeaker and announce what they are going to do next. They miss the hits or kicks, but their opponent falls to the mat, holding whatever was "hit" and cries for the world .. er .. Clearfield to see.

I LOVE wrestling, I really do. I grew up watching and even took a wrestler to my senior prom. Yes, there are photos of that, too.

There were a couple guys who had just been signed to developmental contracts with the WWE. For those who don't own a TV or have never watched reality TV, The WWE is the biggest federation in the world. It's owned by billionaires Linda and Vince McMahon. Yes, Linda ran for Congress or was it Senate last year and got beat worse than a ham and egger in the first match of the night.

The kids who were signed looked so different than the normal indy wrestlers. One of the kids was from Clearfield, so these were his friends and family there to see his last indy show. I must admit, if I were 20 years younger and single ... No, this is a PG-rated blog. Anyhow, here is a photo of us. (I'm the short one)

We already are planning our next show. This time, Randy gets to go with us. This way, he won't call home to find me and just get screaming fans when I answer the phone. :) Off to my next adventure!

Girl reporter just wants to sleep

2011-03-19T08:52:00.005-04:00

OK, so I can't sleep again. I was up all night and was back downstairs to watch the DVR shows until Randy gets home from work. When that happens, it's never good. It's about 7:45 a.m. when he calls, "GET DRESSED! THE CHINESE PLACE IS ON FIRE!" What? I'm still pretty foggy and not sure I'm hearing him right, but the tone gets me moving. I grab the first thing I see as I'm running to our room. My right shoulder needs surgery, so it kills me to even life it slowly. The fast way it's torture, but I throw on my Team Damon shirt, black jeans and a pair of ripped black slip on shoes and my Alice in Wonderland hoodie. Yes, I'm a true fashion plate!

I'm running down the steps yelling to let the kids know I'm going to work and what's going on. Daughter comes flying down the steps looking for shoes. She thinks I need a ride. Good thing Randy was driving because there is no way on the face of this earth she's going outside in her jammies. She's not a little girl anymore.

The fire is out when we get there, but the damage is undeniable. The blackened building, water everwhere. The smell is unmistakeable. Burned wood and worse. I find the fire chief and he walks over. I think it's almost a relief for him to have someone to talk to. His eyes showed the weariness and something worse. He begins to talk, slowly at first, then the words just tumbled out at the end. There was a fatality, one more flown to Pittsburgh in critical condition and possibly two still unaccounted for. The one who died, jumped from the third story window as the fire became too much for him. His brother is a fireman in the department and he couldn't save his brother. He'll never be the same again.

We're well beyond the police tape, but I might as well be invisible. The firemen and police just look past me. I'm at the fire truck talking to my cousin who is in the department. Randy goes closer to the burned out shells that were once a Chinese restaurant, a financial management office and many apartments. One State police officer challenged him, but quickly let him do his work. One look at the camera and a word from the firemen and he's part of the brotherhood. If you look & act like you belong, you'll be left alone. We've learned that over the last 17 years I've had this profession.

I'm home now, frozen solid. I'm grateful the loss isn't closer to me. While the one lost is part of our community, he isn't family. I'm ashamed to even have that thought, but there's no way I could write the story if he would have been any closer. I've turned down assignments when it hits to close to home.

Next time you read the top of the fold news, it's not only the subject that suffers, it's the reporter, too. Contrary to popular opinion, we are human and do have a heart.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-16T08:45:00.002-04:00

Where did the last 5 years go?

2011-03-04T12:18:00.005-05:00

It's been five years since our beloved Michael left us. It wasn't his choice, but someone had other ideas and decided he was needed elsewhere. I can still remember the day in crystal clarity, the sounds, the smells, the screams. It was all so surreal, it couldn't be happening. Til this day, I keep expecting him to walk in through the door.

That morning, I was home alone waiting for the plumber to fix a clogged up pipe when my cousin Jeffrey called me to come to our cousin Kristen's house. I couldn't leave the house, but he was insistent that his mother needed Mom and me right away. There was something about his voice that made me know something was wrong. I called a friend to housesit for me, called my mother at work, picked her up and we raced to Brockway to see what was wrong.

We walked in the door and Judy was there. She looked fine, but Jeffrey's wife put her arms on me and said, "Michael Baxter was killed this morning." WHAT?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I looked over at his mom and she was just sitting there, not able to move with tears flowing. His sister was in her room screaming and crying uncontrolably. I drop to the floor. It can't be real. Why was she saying such a horrible lie? Michael is only 17, he can't be gone.

I hug Kristen for a minute then go back to find Jessa. I just held her until she calmed down a bit, then I had to find my kids. Nobody would give me the keys to their phone, so I called my mother-in-law to please get my kids and bring them to me. She agreed and I called the schools to say she would be picking up the kids soon and I had no idea when they would be back. Then I had to call the rest of the extended family and Randy at work to come for me. Jeffrey ran to pick up my dad.

I can still hear the screams as each new family member was brought in the house and told what happened. Then the funeral home director called and said he wouldn't recommend an open casket and felt we shouldn't even see him. How can that happen? We never got to see our beautiful boy again? It can't be real. Please, let me wake up now. This nightmare has to end soon.

I've written about the horror many times over the last five years on here and it's pretty easy to find them. I'll never forget what happened, how can I? We're not supposed to bury our children. I don't know how Kristen keeps going. Her three girls are her life and now she's finally found a wonderful man who loves her and the girls. She's smiling again. Yes, she still cries a lot and always will, but is able to live again. She's so strong.

To remember the day, the family got together at his favorite Chinese restaurant. I wasn't able to go because it was senior day to take your parents to school. Randy went in my place.

I know we'll all be together again some day. My religious views might not be the same as yours, but I think everyone agrees that a child goes straight to Heaven, Summerland or the Happy Hunting Grounds. It's a straight shot there with no stops. He's no doubt watching me now, shaking his head and telling me to stop crying, he's fine and it doesn't hurt. I can even see him.

Until we meet again, Michael, I'll love you forever and a day.

A day in the life of a high school sophmore

2011-03-02T17:47:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was take your parent to school day at my son's high school. He's a sophmore this year. He asked me if I'd go and of course, I said yes. How could I turn him down? The chance to spend a whole day just hanging out with my kid, even if it was at school sounded fun.

We get to the school and sign in at the office and wait til we can go to his homeroom. When we get there, other kids start to filter in and see me. None of their parents were with. One girl said she'd ask her mom, but "there was a warrant out for her arrest!" Sad. Sad. It was then time for standing for the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. Same as when I was in school, a million years ago. The bell rang and off we went to our first class of the day - CAD (Computer Aided Drafting). I felt like I was in another universe when Trevor pulled up the project he was working on and tried to explain it. His teacher came over and welcomed me to the class. My hubby worked with him at another job before he became a teacher, so we had that in common. Trevor was speaking Techno when describing what he was doing and I had no idea what was going on, so I pulled out my Droid and played on Facebook.

The bell rang and it was off to Geometry. The teacher said hello and that was the last word she spoke to me the entire class. I never took Geometry and never would. They took a test and she had the next assignment written on the board. Very little interaction. Maybe it was just my bleary mind. I must have nodded off a bit. Math was never a favorite subject of mine. I don't see the need to add A and B to get XYZ.

When the bell rang and we could escape the world of math, we went to the world of science and an entirely different teaching approach. The kids were working on a lab project that involved dissolving solids in liquids and monitoring their temperature changes. Once that was over, the teacher gave a few notes on the whiteboard and the class was over. It didn't seem to me that it had been over an hour. The teacher welcomed me to the class and explained every step they were taking. A total difference from the previous experience. I wasn't a big fan of science, but I honestly think I would have enjoyed taking her entire class.

It was back to the CAD room for his studyhall. He worked more on his project until it was time for lunch. FINALLY it was time to eat. The cooking class had a special meal prepared for parents. I was the only one we had seen all day. I was afraid it'd be just Trevor and me staring at each other, but one other mother had been able to take off lunch and was there with her son Luke. I've talked about Luke before. He's a good friend of Trevor's and we hang out with him as often as we can. His father was a very dear friend of mine who we lost, entirely too young. The meal was wonderful and the teacher spent the entire time talking to us. Another very warm and friendly teacher. The type we all want teaching our children. She cared and it was obvious.

Once the meal was over, Trevor had to go to his Engineering class. More techno talk that I couldn't understand, so I worked on my Facebook gaming skills again. :)

The final class of the day was Driver's Training. The class was treated to some very nasty, bloody commercials from England showing the horrors of texting or drinking while driving. What fun. I don't believe he even welcomed me. Ah well, he's a former gym teacher, so I didn't expect much. He did say good bye when the class was over and we were able to escape to go home.

The day was eye-opening about how school has changed since I was there. I graduated from that school as did my husband and mother. It's NOTHING like it was then. As the middle school principal said to me about the changes, "Some for the better and some not."

Tomorrow is senior parents' day to go. Of course, I'll be going. I'm sooo looking forward to Spanish. :( I hope a few more parents will be there. I think it's important to show our children we care, even when they're at an age where it's not quite as cool to have mommy or daddy around.

Wordless Wednesday - Hockey Theme

2011-03-02T07:43:00.003-05:00

Two bloggers meet

2011-02-27T00:35:00.007-05:00

We always hear stories about how small the world is, but until you experience something like I did today, you don't really understand just what that means.

I've been writing a blog for many years. Started out as a paper and pen diary, but quickly progressed to the internet as soon as this was available and I found it. I'm a writer by profession, so it's only natural for me to keep track of my life this way.

I was surfing around one day and saw a photo of Warren, PA. That's not too far from where I live, so I followed the link to a page and there was Linda Gross' blog called Linda's Photo Journal. We started exchanging comments on our blog posts and promise to get together for coffee some day. Never thought that some day would be in the middle of the northwestern PA winter, but it did!

Ridgway hosts a huge, international carving gathering every February. It is the largest non-competitive gathering of these extreme artists in the entire world and it gave the town the name of "Chainsaw Capital of the World." It draws hundreds of carvers and upwards of 40,000 visitors stopping by the see what chainsaw art really is. Walking through town, we saw plates from New York, Ohio and several other States. If you've never seent this extreme artform done in person, you really need to check it out. How they can look at a log and "see" the animal or whatever in it is way beyond me.

I had posted about it last week for Camera Critters and not long after, Linda sent me a note saying she hoped to get here and would I be around. Of course, I'd be here, just depends on whether or not I could get out of bed. Arielle got up since I had to take some photos and interview a few of the carvers, creators and visitors for ny article. When it was time to leave, I just took an extra pain pill to let me keep moving a few hours. Trevor took me over to the carving grounds and stuck beside me to make sure I didn't get bumped or fall and hurt myself. It's so embarassing that I need my 16-year old to walk beside me and hold my hand at times to keep me from falling. My balance is really off these days. (Keep your fingers crossed the new neurologist in Pittsburgh can help)He isn't one of those teenage boys who won't be seen with their mother. He's had to help me walk or get up for several years, so he doesn't think anything of it. I know the kids snicker at him and call him "Mommy's boy" and worse, but he just pretends those mutants don't exist and he does what he knows is right.

We had just got to the carving lot and I get a call from Linda who she says she and her husband Bob were about 12 miles outside of town and asked where can they park. The town is REALLY full because of the gathering. About 10 minutes or so later, she calls again. They're there! While I try not to get nervous meeting new friends for the first time, I can't help it. I lose words and have trouble following the conversations at times. I look like death warmed over many days. Thankfully, it was a decent morning pain-wise and I was able to smile and enjoy the day. Trevor and I walk down to where they're waiting and there is Linda's smiling face walking towards us. That is what told me we're going to be great friends. If you've never seen her blog, you owe it to yourself to stop by and see her gorgeous photography. Her photos are a reflection of what a wonderful person she truly is, both inside and out.

We walked around the carving grounds, stopping to take many photos. Bob beat me to posting a photo of Linda and me, but I'm glad he did. The photo turned out really nice. Linda and I share the same passion for photography, so we had plenty to talk about. She had her new camera with and is just learning how to use all the features. I'm sure her photos will turn out beautiful!

After seeing everything we wanted to, we went to the best Italian place in town - Patalano's Place II. I always take new visitors there. We talked and talked and laughed a lot, too. Our time together was far too short, but we'll meet again and this time Randy or the kids will drive me to Warren and she can show me around.

Thank you, Linda and Bob for stopping by and for making my afternoon a very good one. Lets do it again soon. :)

Camera Critters #151

2011-02-27T00:28:00.006-05:00

Time for my favorite weekly meme! Yes, it's Camera Critters time!!!!

All the photos were taken at this year's Ridgway Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous. It's their 12th year and everyone I interviewed has said this was the best year ever. It was cold and snowy at times, but the variety of animals carved is unreal. There were many carvings I would have loved to bring home, but they were way out of my price range. At least, I have the photos to remind me of the beauty that can be created with a log and a chainsaw, talent and a lot of imagination!

If you want to see more of the world's best animal photos, stop over at Camera Critter's central

Thursday's images

2011-02-24T15:20:00.006-05:00

I'm behind, as usual, but there are my Wordless Wednesday images. Will post more after the Swiss Steak fundraising dinner tonight.

Camera Critters #150

2011-02-20T18:35:00.009-05:00

The day is almost over and I just remembered it's time to put up my favorite meme - Camera Critters!!!

This week, I'll be sharing photos from the 12th annual Ridgway Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous. It’s that time of year again when the world’s elite in the extreme art form that is chainsaw carving descend on the small Northwestern Penna. town of Ridgway. What began as a small backyard gathering in the winter of 2000 of six friends has turned into the largest non-competitive event in the world and is the reason Ridgway has been dubbed, “The Chainsaw Capital of the World.” This will mark its 12th year as the week-long event kicked off Saturday and runs through next Saturday, Feb. 26.

The event was the brain child of twin brothers Randy and Rick Boni. After Randy moved away, Rick and his wife Liz have turned the backyard gathering into a world-class event that attracts hundreds of participants and thousands of visitors. Carving is the universal language that everyone speaks, whether their English is polished, broken or non-existent.

If you want to see more animals from around the world, stop over at Camera Critters' central at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/.

Forgive the lack of clickable links, I had to get a pain shot and I'm having trouble thinking. Hopefully, I'll be more normal tomorrow.

Valentines' Day

2011-02-14T12:54:00.004-05:00

Since Randy works tonight, we decided to celebrate yesterday. We went to a nice steak house for dinner. Well, it looked nice on the outside and the food looked nice when it arrived. Sadly, looks can be very deceiving. My crab legs were cold, my shrimp scampi was cold and my baked potato was luke warm. The only good thing was the freshly-made bread. Randy ordered prime rib, but what he got tasted more like pot roast. Not a good start to the night.

Romantic comedies just aren't our style, so for Valentines' Day, off we went to see The Rite. Yeah, the exorcist movie starring Anthony Hopkins. The movie started off very slow. Hopkins didn't appear til the movie was half over. That's when it got good. As everyone who has seen him act knows, he plays a good psycho. Watching Hannibal Leckter conduct an exercism is interesting, but the fun begins when the exercist is possessed and has to rely on a wanna-be priest who isn't sure there is a God. The story is based on real-life, so they say. The wanna be is sent to Rome to learn to be an exercist when he wants to leave before being ordained. The class is being taught at the Vatican, but for some reason the teacher is speaking in English and calls Michael "the American" when he shows up late the first day of class. The teacher speaks perfect American English. I can do the willful suspension of disbelief, but it's the little things that bother me. The actor should have at least had an Italian accent.

The movie was pretty good, once you get by the little things. Sadly, I got slammed near the end of the movie with a killer migraine and could barely walk out it hurt so badly. Hubby helps me out, we order pizza to take home to the kids and off we go.

I have injectible pain meds since the doc can't always be available to me. Randy and Trevor both were taught to give them to me, so that's how I spent the last of the holiday weekend - curled up in the dark with Mittens, my arm on fire from the shot and my head exploding.

Maybe I'll do better for St. Patrick's Day?

I'm Styling and Profiling! WOOOO!!

2011-01-31T14:27:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Jenni , My blog is now kn own as a Stylish place to hang out! Thanks for the wonderful award. I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness. :)

I'm suppose to list 7 things about myself, then pass this on to 15 people. How about I list the 7 and just open up the award to all my friends? You're all too important to me to pick and choose. :)

1. I'm a purse addict. Yes, I have to admit it, I can't pass up a purse aisle.
2. I LOVE sterling silver charms and rings and never go anywhere without them on.
(Except for the bracelet that was stolen when we were skiing. What is wrong with
people?)
3. I love animals and would gladly have a houseful of them, but have to be satisfied
with one Golden Retriever named Aphrodite; two cats named Mittens and Athena;
and two hamsters Rube and Yuri.
4. I'm a freelance writer/photographer and spend all the time I can with a camera
in my hands.
5. I suffer from mind-shattering, life-sucking migraines that have taken away most
of my life. I'm not able to drive distances and nobody can help stop them.
6. I'm very into the paranormal and really enjoy going on ghost hunts and reading
all about it. Yes, I WANT TO BELIEVE!
7. Hot Topic is my favorite place to shop and I only wear clothes from there. Yeah,
I'm going through my second teenage days. I embarass the kids to no end when
I wear my skinny jeans and Rocky Horror shirt to school functions. (Why do I
hear Harper Valley PTA theme singing now?)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-26T20:12:00.001-05:00

Camera Critters #146

2011-01-23T13:41:00.007-05:00

It's Sunday, so it's time for my other favorite meme - Camera Critters!

This cheerful little guy was out looking for a treat when we left the Capital building in Washington D.C. on our way back to the hotel in Georgetown. We didn't have any peanuts along, but happily shared our snacks we had in our backpacks. After a 20 minute ride to the next station,I sure understand why everyone we saw had on a backpack or messanger bag. I'd go stir crazy with nothing to do.

If you want to see more of the cutest photos of animals with fur, fins and feathers, stop over at Camera Critters' headquarters for links to check them all out.

Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 28

2011-01-21T16:37:00.002-05:00

This is a view from the Speaker of the House's balcony. I took it Wednesday afternoon while we were touring the Capital building in Washington D.C.

If you're interested in other photos of sky shots from around the world, stop over at Skywatch Central at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com/

Our Washington DC Trip

2011-01-21T14:01:00.009-05:00

One of the requirements for students at my children's high school is that they job shadow someone in an occupation they are interested in their junior and senior years. Most kids pick an easy local person or family friend and rush through it. My kids are a little different, thanks to my job. Arielle job shadowed with the State Governor's office her first year and with the local sheriff the second year. Trevor wanted to job shadow the President, but I have no contacts at the White House, so he had to pick someone else. In the end, he decided to be with Congressman Glenn Thompson, the representative for the 5th Congressional District of Penna.

We left for Washington DC on Tuesday morning and he was scheduled to spend Wednesday with the Congressman, then we drove home yesterday. The six-hour drive is too much for me to do in one day, so staying was mandatory. We found a nice hotel in Georgetown. It wasn't near the MetroRail line, but the hotel provided a van to drive us there.

We went to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner on Tuesday night. I love to collect their pins and charms, so I couldn't miss the opportunity to add to my collection. Of course, my charm bracelet was stolen at Holiday Valley, so I had to buy a new one and now try to replace all the charms that were on it. Anyone who lives near a HRC or travels by one, I'll gladly pay all costs for a guitar pick charm to add to the bracelet.

I spoke with his staff several times before we arrived. They put together a full day of meetings, tours and an interview with the Congressman. They suggested we use the MetroRail rather than try to drive. It was a first for Trevor to ever use a system like that. He looked so handsome in his new suit and newspaper. Like the young gentleman he is, he stood and let me have the seat. The trip took about 15 minutes and let us out right below the House of Representatives' office building. After going through security, we found the right off and were greeted by everyone. The Congressman was in a private meeting for members only, so they sent us down to get breakfast in the cafeteria. When we got back, Trevor was given a brief history of the Capital and House.

Randy and I were ready to go off to tour the City while Trevor worked when Glenn walked in. He smiled and said he never put the name together to realize Trevor was my son, but he was happy to have him there. He then asked if we'd like to tour the Capital with them. He had a meeting that would take about an hour, so Trevor was going in there and Randy and I went to the gift shop to spend some time. We got a call that the tour had just started, but they were going to escort us to meet Trevor and Glenn.

The tour was wonderful. We were in the private gallery to hear debate on healthcare. Glenn gave his thoughts on the issue and then left the floor and continued the tour. Being with the Congressman allowed us to go places the rest of the public couldn't go. We went out on the Speaker of the House's balcony. What a gorgeous view! It's the best in the City, we were told and it sure was true. After that, he took us for lunch in the private members only resteraunt. The food was excellent!

Trevor was given a half hour to interview Glenn and ask anything he wanted. Randy and I sat in with that session and also added our questions. As a reporter, how could I not take advantage of that opportunity and Randy also had some questions for one of the most powerful men in our State. After that, he had one more meeting that Trevor sat in while Randy and I spoke to the press liasons. That was a great way to spend time.

After the meeting, Glenn gave Trevor a few little mementos of his visit and off we went. There was a protestor outside the Capital harassing Congressmen as they went into the building. A police officer with a riot shotgun was present to make sure the protestor only used words. Coming from a small town, it's not something we're use to seeing, but brings home exactly how dangerous their jobs could be.

We got on the MetroRail and decided to see the White House and get a few photos. The front was comletely blocked off. It took us a few minutes to walk to the back and there were riot police there as well. The Chinese President was in town and there were dozens of protestors there. They were shouting and holding signs urging President Hu to let Taiwan be a free country. There were snipers on the roof of the White House. Another very scary sight for small town residents.

International press were all over the area taking photos and interviewing the protestors. I took a bunch of photos as well, but didn't have time for interviews. My Mandarin Chinese isn't very good to begin with, so I stuck with images only. Some of the protestors covered their faces, Randy explained to Trevor that they were doing that to protect their families back in China and Taiwan. Living in America, we don't have to worry about our families being punished or killed if we protest against anything. That's what living in a free country is all about. There are too many countries where people don't have that right. They can't do something as simple as log onto the internet and read the latest Hollywood gossip on Perez Hilton's blog. Our country might not be perfect and there are a lot of things that need changed, but at least we have a basic sense of freedom. We have the right to protest and not worry about being beaten to death. I'm a reporter and can write what I want and not worry about ending up in prison when I offend someone in power.

We didn't have the chance to visit all the fun places we wanted to, but it was still a wonderful trip. We were given the chance to tour the House of Representatives and the Capital building in ways most visitors never will. Something as simple as buying a parking ticket was new for us.

Holiday Valley Ski Trip

2011-01-18T07:24:00.006-05:00

With all the snow, my kids were begging to go skiing and snowboarding for the past several weeks. Randy finally had a weekend off, so we packed up the truck on Saturday morning and headed off to Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, NY. Randy loves to ski, so it wasn't a big deal for him to go. He was in the ski club all through school as are my kids. :) We got there around 10 a.m. and left at 8:30 p.m.

They all had a lot of fun skiing and Trevor snowboarding. Trevor tried his first black diamond trails this trip, so it was a big deal for him. I stayed at the lodge reading a book and drinking hot cocoa. I even finished the book (Blood Promise by Richelle Mead), so it was a good day for me, until it came time to leave. That's when I realized someone had stolen my tote bag. What kind of person steals a bag when the owner is sitting right there? I can't even say when it happened. I never left my stuff unattended. :(

Besides getting the purple tote bag my god-daughter gave me for Christmas, they got my Dell laptop charger, my white Nintendo DS in an Assassin's Creed case with 5 games, my organizer book (I'm a reporter and it's vital for me to have those phone numbers and appointments) and my contact lenses along with photos of family a few other personal things I always take when we travel. The total street value is probably less than $50 if it went to a pawn shop. What is wrong with people? If you absolutely had to have my DS, why not return my contact lenses and organizer?

That destroyed the trip for us and I honestly don't ever want to go back there. It hurts too much to think about it. There's a $100 reward for the return of the contents, no questions asked. If you happen to have gotten it mixed up with your bags, please return it. My name, address, phone numbers and email are on everything except for the charger and DS.

Parents, please talk to your children about how much it hurts when things are stolen. My children said they'll give up their allowance until all the items are replaced, but I can't do that to them. It's not their fault and will cost way more to replace everything than they are worth.

Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 27

2011-01-14T14:55:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite weekly memes is Skywatch Friday. I don't get to participate as much as I'd like to, but will add an entry this week. This is my favorite spot in my favorite place right at sunset. The witness tree has seen nearly 150 sunsets in its life.

If you want to see more sky shots from around the globe, stop over at Skywatch Central at: http://www.skyley.blogspot.com/

Christmas

2010-12-30T22:45:00.014-05:00

OK, it's only a week late, but I wanted to post some of our Christmas photos. We didn't go overboard this year like normal. Just didn't have it in me. I always try to make sure all my kids (cousins) know how much they mean to me and spoil them a bit, much to the dismay of their parents. I can't help it, when I'm on the hunt for just the "perfect" gift, I can forget the pain for a few minutes. Besides, I like to see their faces when they realize what they're holding. I can "hold" that image in my mind and bring it back when I'm being jabbed and stabbed, poked and prodded by whatever specialist I'm at this week. So, it's really a selfish reason for me to spoil the kids. Like this one of my cousin Lilly opening the Glee hat and Michael Jackson tee shirt I found for her. Who wouldn't love seeing that reaction to their gift?

My MIL wasn't able to go out shopping at all, so we did what we could for her. She wanted to have some things to wrap and put under her tree. Christmas is an important holiday for her. We gave her a snowman last year and a pin this year that says, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." It's her outlook on it. We don't discuss religion. Much safer and keeps everyone on speaking terms. :) We also did the shopping for my mom since she stays with MIL and helps out while Arielle is at school. I think I've mentioned that she's pretty much moved in to help her grandma.

We started out at 6 a.m. here at home, getting the last of the presents ready and ran the sweeper one last time before my parents and brother as well as Arielle's boyfriend Rustin showed up at 8 to exchange gifts. For me, the highlight of the morning was seeing my mother's face when she saw our gift to her. It's a new 42 inch LED TV. She and my dad deserve something extra nice. They do so much for us, we wanted to do this for them. Mom kept crying that it was too much, but how can it ever be too much for two people who has given me the world? I can make a call and say I need you and they are here practically before I hang up the phone. I only wish I could do more for them.

After they left, we cleaned up the last of the wrapping paper and loaded the gifts for my family's gathering at noon. We were all meeting at my aunt's house and we had dinner and did the gifts. With around 30 or so people, it gets crowded and noisy, but always filled with love. Any holiday with my family can get overwhelming, but that's what happens with a very close-knit family like ours. We gave everyone one of Arielle's senior photos. The kids also got a few extra goodies.

Then it was back home and to MIL's for the final meal and gift exchange of the day. She always says not to give her anything, she has everything she needs. Can't do that though. We thought about what she might need and decided a new phone system. The ones she had were forever being left off the hook because they were old and didn't sit right anymore. Of course, she loved that. Arielle was the big "winner" of the day, I guess you could say. She got a new laptop since she'll need one for college in the fall. Trevor also got more than enough with all the video games and gamer clothes. He has a different gamer hoodie for each day of the week and enough tee shirts to not wear the same one twice in almost a month's span.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that 2011 will bring only good. There's been too much suffering and hate in the world in 2010 and I for one am good and tired of it! Why can't we just try something new and let peace reign? How much longer are we going to keep sending our troops off to fight endless wars? It's obviously not working, so how about we try to stay out of it? I realize how radical that sounds, but war isn't working. I better get off my soapbox or this post will never get up.

A gag gift for Randy from my dad. What a joker!

New Update with work photos

2010-12-30T15:36:00.004-05:00

Just have a second before I run out the door. Have to go photograph a log cabin that burned early this morning. It's about 50 miles round trip.

My MIL is doing well. She's healing and getting around. Thanks to everyone who left words of encouragement as well as all the prayers. I do appreciate all of you!

I'll post photos from Christmas when we get home later tonight.

Here are a few of the photos from the fire scene. Pretty sad to see a family lose everything right after Christmas. :( It took about an hour to find the place, after driving through back roads. One was even named "Bob's Road", yes, I said that. Thank the electronic deities who created GPS or I'd still be roaming the woods trying to find the place and my way home again.

Camera Critters

2010-12-12T10:31:00.003-05:00

Athena checks out Yuri. It looks scarey, but the hamster is in no danger. Athena doesn't have a taste for hamster meat apparently.

To see more of the cutest animal photos in the global universe, just check out Camera Critters' home page.

My updates

2010-12-10T11:27:00.008-05:00

Sorry I haven't been around lately. We had another family emergency and it's taken over all my life and thoughts. This is the first time I've even opened my laptop in about a week.

My mother-in-law got very ill on Friday afternoon and we had to rush her to the hospital. On Saturday, she was bleeding very badly and was sent immediately to Hamot Hospital. They wanted to fly her, but the weather was too bad, so it was a stat ambulance. We followed and go to Hamot around midnight. By the time she got there, she had been given almost a dozen bags of blood and 5 or 6 bags of plasma. It was a very scary day and we almost lost her.

She was in Erie four days and after exploratory testing, they found the bleeding had stopped on itself, so she didn't need to have surgery. We're very thrilled about that. We brought her home Wednesday night. After the holidays, she'll be getting her knees replaced. She's in horrible pain from them and can't take much more of it.

She's home now where she feels better. My 18-year old daughter has moved in to help take care of her. When she leaves for school, my mother goes over to hang out. MIL won't let me just stay there because she's too worried I have too much on my plate to bother with her. Silly and I've told her that, but she won't budge. I can stop by and have lunch and run a few errands, but that's it.

This was another of those turning points in life for me. I've always known how fast we can lose those we love. We make sure we hug and kiss and say I love you before we leave. Those should be the last words your loved one hears.

Since it's Christmas time, the moral of my story is to please make time for your elderly family and friends. Record that show or football game and go spend a couple hours making grandma happy. Have her tell you about Christmas when she was young. Let it be the start of a family history. Record it and you can make special gifts for everyone with photos and words telling about their family tree. Imagine how important those CDs will be for future generations.

We all need to tell those we love that every day. I hope everyone has a wonderful season!

Senior Pictures in Gettysburg

2010-11-21T21:01:00.004-05:00

Arielle is starting her search for a college. Her second trip was to a school 45 minutes from Gettysburg, so of course, we had to go there. She decided to have her senior photos taken there since I love it so much and it will make them even more memorable. For sure, none of the other seniors will have photos like hers.

We spent two days there taking photos of her around the battlefields. On Saturday, it was pretty cold, but there she was in her little red mini dress and black stilleto heels on Devil's Den, Little Round Top, the Pennsylvania Memorial and other sites. We had the photo gear all set up, just like we would at any other professional shoot. The looks people gave were a riot! Quite a few tourists began taking her photo, too. Probably wondering what famous model she was or who exactly this beautiful girl was. She had to be "somebody" to be dressed like that and have all that equipment to take her photos. Only makes sense, right? :)

There was a huge re-enactment this weekend, so hundreds were dressed in period costume. I took a photo of her with a few soldiers and they were saying she wouldn't be accepted dressed like that in 1863. Yeah, she would have been one of those who followed the wagons. Then one of the women dressed up took a series of shots with her, including one where she was "lecturing her" about appearing in public in her underware! Too funny!

We just need to put her name and graduation year on the corners and make it the right size and she'll be set to start giving them out. We'll always remember the blast of taking the photos and have those memories as well as the photos themselves. Why pay someone else hundreds of dollars when we're perfectly capable of doing them ourselves? Plus the fun of making her a minor celebrity at the same time!

We also got to meet an internet pal of mine along with her family. We've "talked" over the internet for years and she recently moved to this part of the country, only about an hour from Gettysburg, so we had to get together. We gabbed like we've known each other for ages. Hope to have more fun with Cari and her family next time.

Happy Birthday, Trevor!!!! (Plus an update on me)

2010-11-11T22:33:00.007-05:00

Today is a huge milestone in my son's life. He turned 16! How did that happen? Those last years just seem to have flown by.

We went out to eat at Red Lobster with his grandparents. Of course, I slipped a note to the waitress that we were celebrating, so they came around and sang for him. He was turning red, but I know he loved it, even though he claimed that he didn't want that done. He should know better. I never let a special event go by without recognition. These are the little things he'll never forget. Who care if we don't have a mansion?

After dinner, we ran to the mall for a few minutes, then came home to open up his gifts. We got him a TV, Arielle gave him a lap blanket she designed and sewed herself, my parents gave him a video game and Randy's mom got him a laptop. That hasn't arrived yet, so he has to wait a bit for it. Yes, Trevor is a wee bit spoiled. I figure it this way, he's had a very rough life so far with his health, so if playing a few video games makes him happy when he's not able to be out, so be it. He's had over a dozen major surgeries done on both ears. On his left side, they've removed his mastoid bone and completely rebuilt his eardrum and two of three hearing bones. It's truly a miricle he's able to hear at all. There's significant hearing loss, but he can hear. That's all that matters in the long run. He doesn't want short hair because the scar is very noticable where his left ear was cut off to do the surgeries. It embarasses him when people ask about it. The right ear only had one main surgery when the eardrum had to be repaired after an IDIOT POS sucker punched him at school and broke this eardrum. All the kids know about his ear problems. It's a very small school district, so the brat did it delibertly. WHY? A girl, what else? The girl liked Trevor and not the POS. Trevor wouldn't hit back. He knows no fighting, but especially not in school. Obviously, the other kid wasn't taught the same. So typical! Not a thing was done to punish the kid. Makes me sick to think about it.

Anyhow, we hope he's done with all the ear surgeries, but nothing is guaranteed. He visits a specialist once a year to keep an eye on it. One little infection could cause huge problems.

Tomorrow, I have to go to the hospital for a CT scan with constrast and all that fun stuff. The pain has moved recently and it concerns the doctor. He said it sounds like it could be an aneurysm and wants the scan done ASAP. Am I scared? A little. I'd be lying if I said different, but I just want to know what's causing the pain. I know that little thing could cause a world of problems or just kill me, but at least then we'd know something. Will post when we're back from the hospital. I'm back on the strong pain pills for a few weeks until we know for sure what the scans say. They knock me out and I sound like a loon when talking after taking them, but keep the pain knocked down enough that I can be aware of life.

Erie Otters' and Owen Sound Attack Hockey Game

2010-11-06T23:33:00.011-04:00

It was a pure fluke that I even knew there was a hockey game tonight. I saw a stack of pocket schedules when we checked into the hotel last night and grabbed one. Just threw it in my purse and never even looked at it til today. I originally figured it was for the next baseball season, for the Erie Seawolves. Turns out it was for hockey. I don't know much about the sport, really all I know I learned from the movie Slapshot. Anyone else seen it? It's quite the hilarious movie and I highly recommend it if you can add it to your Netflix que.

I ask my gang if they want to go to a game tonight, it's just something new to try and doesn't cost a million dollars. Rustin absolutely loves hockey, but had never been to a game, so he was all for it. Arielle was all for anything Rustin was all for. Randy and Trevor went along because I wanted to go, especially since I can't drive for the time being. I call the Otter's main office and order the tickets and happen to mention we're celebrating Trevor's Surley Sixteen to the ticket agent. She had asked about the ages of the kids we were bringing, then she asks how to spell his name. Trevor begins to worry at this point when he hears me spelling his name over the phone. "What's that for?" he demands to know. See? SURLEY! Oh nothing, honey. He refuses to believe me and knows I'm up to something.

We eat and head off to the arena. It's only about a 10 minute drive from our hotel. We get to the game just in time for the Canadian national anthem to begin. The American national anthem was next. The opponents were from Canada. Go figure! It was Erie (in white) taking on the Owen Sound Attack (in dark).

The game begins and I keep looking for the Hansen brothers. Anyone who has seen the movie I referenced in the first paragraph knows what I'm talking about. For the rest, expecially those under 30 (or is it 40 now?), there are three Hansen brothers who were "old school" hockey players. What does that mean? Well, they liked to fight -- a lot.

There was one pretty nice fight during tonight's game. Gloves off, punches thrown and a pretty good take down. The referees just let them go for it, until they got onto the ice. That's when they stopped them. At that point, I started looking for the stripping hockey player (another movie reference), but no such luck. SIGH!

The game continues and is very fast paced and lots of fun to watch. Randy went out after the second period and surprised me with a hockey puck and an Otters' rally flag. He takes good care of me! I had picked up one of each of the three pins they were selling on my way in. They're one of the things I can't pass up (purses and silver charms are two others). I have them on my new Steeler purse now. The announcer starts wishing all the people there a happy birthday and there's my big boy's name on the jumbo screen. Of course, we all start yelling and clapping for him. He's turning red and trying to hide in his coat. :) I know he appreciated it, but just doesn't want to admit it. We all know how teenage boys are.

I'm happily snapping away with my camera and by the time the game's over, I've taken 551 photos. I'll be deleting about 100 or so of them. If any professional photographer tries to tell you every image they take is perfect, don't believe it and keep looking for someone honest. We all get blurry images, shadows in the shot and lots more. It's hard to photograph through beat up glass. Anyone that's ever seen a hockey game or even replay knows, they tend to slam each other into the glass quite a bit. The fans were slamming on the other side. I've never experienced that sort of thing at a sporting event before. Learn something new every day!

I would definately go to another hockey game. Any time, any place. This was a college league (or minor league) game. My grandpa took me and my cousin to a couple of Pittsburgh Penguin games when we were about 7 or 8. There were bus trips back then that let us enjoy a day with the man we all loved so much for less than $20 each! You can't park at a Pittsburgh game for less than $20 now. One of hubby's friends takes his grandson to Pittsburgh Penguin games and says it's never less than $1,000 for a trip! That's way out of our league. So sad that only the rich can afford to enjoy live games.

The Otters lost 2-3, but they played well and should be proud of that. I can't even begin to imagine keeping on my feet while on iceskates. These young men are flying BACKWARDS, spinning around and so much more while passing a puck and trying to score points! I have such respect for all those athletes.

PS: Don't forget to fall back tonight and set your clocks back an hour! YEAH!!! We all can use a little more sleep. Night all!!

Review on SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger

2010-11-06T19:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of SPOT. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever been driving along a back road or late at night in an area with spotty or no cell service? My husband and I had that nightmare happen to us one night. We were on the Interstate coming home from a Phil Collins' concert (Yes, we're wild ones!) when our SUV started making a grinding noise, then stopped. NOW WHAT? I pulled out our cell phone to call 9-1-1. I got one bar and got far enough to say we were broke down, when we lost service. It was a scary hour before the State Police found us and called a tow truck and a family member to get us home.

If we had the SPOT Satellite GPS messenger, we would have been home much sooner and been warmer. We live in Pennsylvania, in a small town that doesn't have the greatest service out there. This GPS Messenger is also good for backpacking through the National Forest or when we're camping or canoeing. Using 100% satellite technology, SPOT works virtually anywhere in the world, even where cell phones don’t – all with the push of a button. Pretty neat, huh? Prett

Right now, for the holiday season, if you buy the SPOT Satellite GPS messenger, you receive a bonus adventure kit worth $50. The kit includes a coupon for 15% off Basic Service, flotation case for SPOT, micro LED flashlight, safety tips bandana, lanyard, safety whistle and a carabineer keychain.

Trevor's Birthday Weekend

2010-11-06T16:12:00.005-04:00

My son Trevor turns Sweet 16 next week (do boys think of it as Sweet Sixteen? What do you call the milestone for them? Would Surly Sixteen be available?). We had a chance to get out of town this weekend, so we're celebrating early. Our daughter is checking out colleges in Erie, PA. We're also going to be near Gettysburg (!!!!!!!!!!) and State College for her to check out others.

After the college visit, we stopped at the mall. Imagine that, there's a HOT TOPIC store here. Hmmm ... how did that happen? :) I found way too much, as usual. I recently discovered a great new show - Sons of Anarchy and they had a tee shirt for it. Arielle found several Undead Hello Kitty purses, hoodies and keychains. Trevor picked out a new Halo hoodie and tee shirt. I also got my goddaughter a Christmas present, but she has to wait to find out what it is.

After that, we had dinner at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, then went to Trevor's favorite place in Erie - Lazartag. I don't play because it sets off violent headaches when the lazar hits my eyes, but I can take photos from the observation room. Taking photos through glass, into a darkened, fog-filled room isn't easy, so the shots aren't what I normally would share. Please forgive the roughness of them.

Today, we spent the day at Splash Lagoon. It's an indoor waterpark and lots of fun. Tonight, we're going to an Erie Otters' hockey game. Should be lots of fun. Never been to one before. Arielle's boyfriend loves hockey, so he's happy to be going.

Tomorrow, it will be another full day at the waterpark, then home for school and work on Monday. Always nice to get away. After a week filled with covering budget meetings, I was ready to crawl into a hole. I'll be ready to go back to finish up the last budget meeting on Monday night.

Time to run, we're going to Quaker Steak and Lube for dinner before the game. No wings for me, but a nice steak sure sounds good! Will post more photos tonight or when we get home tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-03T23:07:00.004-04:00

Meeting the new man in our daughter's life and election night

2010-11-03T22:35:00.007-04:00

My daughter is a beautiful 18-year old, with long red hair and a smile that will light up the room when she uses it. She's had a few boyfriends over the past year or two, but nothing serious. She's now a legal adult, but still a high school senior.

She met a new guy and is really happy with him. We finally got to meet him last night and took him out to dinner to grill ... er ... terrorize ... er ... get to know him better. Yeah, that's what I meant.

He's a nice, polite guy and we seem to have a lot in common with him. His father worked with hubby's mother for many years, so at least we have a connection to the family. The more we talked, the more we know he'll fit in just fine. He's encouraging our daughter to go to college and get her education. "I'll be waiting," is what he said. I like him already!

After dinner, we went to the after-election party to watch the results come in and let him meet the people we spend a lot of time with. He needs to get use to politics and politicians if he's going to hang around with us. Arielle registered to vote soon after turning 18 and she even volunteered to help out a local State Representative candidate's campaign this year. She's really grown into a special young woman. Of course, she voted. I couldn't be prouder of her. She can talk to anyone of any level of education and has friends in both parties. She's been around politicians since the third grade when I homeschooled her and took her to government meetings, press conferences, etc.. I can still see this little tiny girl following around our newest State Senator that year. Joe Scarnatti would stop and pose where she pointed since she also had a camera and he treated her like a person and not just an annoying little kid. When she went back to public school, he would make it a point to stop and see her when he was in the area. He's now our State's acting Lt. Governor as well as President Pro Tempe of our State Senate and still makes time for her. She was able to job shadow with him in Harrisburg and would love to work for him again.

There were more than a few tears after the final results were tabulated, but with the mood of the electorate, there was no chance for many well qualified candidates. In two years, the mood will have shifted because people will be sick of the non-stop bickering and the grid-lock. I truly hope that Republicans and Democrats will be able to learn to lean across the aisle and work together and not just play one-upmanship. The election is over, lets forget where we are different and remember that we are all Americans and deserve a political body that will work for us. OK, off my soap box and back to watching Stormchasers (my deep secret dream is to join them some day. Yes, little me out chasing tornadoes!)

Ode to the mighty McDonald's McRib

2010-11-01T20:20:00.006-04:00

Yes, it is once again that season when McDonalds around the nation bring back their most popular sandwich. I'm talking about, of course, the mighty McRib!! Yes, the yummy goodness that is the pork-shaped mystery meat is once again available to tempt our palettes.

After covering a meeting tonight, Arielle and I decided to treat hubby and Trevor to their first taste in a couple years. It hasn't been available in our region for entirely too long. After repeating the order 4 times and a five-minute wait, we are handed the bags and off we go. The manager chases us to the door, they gave us the wrong ones. We don't want the onions and I don't eat pickles. OK. Glad she stopped us because not only was one covered in onions, they were one sandwich short and it was MY SANDWICH.

We get to the car and I can't wait to tear open the box. The smell is overwhelming our senses. First bite is simply nirvona. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Yes, I will pay for eating that half sandwich, but it will be worth it in the long run. Life is too short to deny yourself the little pleasures in life simply because it might not be the best choice in life. I look at it as all things in moderation. Well, most things, I suppose. I can't advocate some things - hagus springs to mind. Shudder.

I hope I've inspired you to run right out to your nearest McD's. We don't even have one in our town, so it's a 20+ minute drive to get these sandwiches.

No, I have no connection to the store, I'm just a fan, but McD's if you want to sponsor a few blog posts, you can pay me in McRibs!! :)

The Halloween Witch

2010-11-01T11:14:00.002-04:00

Each year they parade her about ... the traditional Halloween witch. Misshapen green face, stringy scraps of hair and a toothless mouth beneath her disfigured nose. Gnarled, knobby fingers twisted into a claw, protracting from a bent and twisted torso that lurches about on wobbly legs.

Most think this abject image to be the creation of a prejudiced mind or merely a Halloween caricature. I disagree. I believe this to be how witches were really seen.

Consider that most witches: were women, were abducted in the night and smuggled into dungeons or prisons under the secrecy of darkness, to be presented by the light of day as a confessed witch.

Few, if any, saw a frightened, normal looking woman being dragged into a secret room filled with instruments of torture. To be questioned until she confessed to anything that was suggested to her and to give names or whatever would stop the questions. Crowds saw the aberration denounced to the world as a self-proclaimed witch.

As the witch was paraded through the town, en route to be burned, hanged, drowned, stoned, or disposed of in various other forms of Christian love ... all created to free and save her soul from her depraved body. The jeering crowds viewed the results of hours of torture. The face, bruised and broken by countless blows, bore a hue of sickly green. The once warm and loving smile gone. Replaced by a grimace of broken teeth and torn gums that leers beneath a battered, disfigured nose. The disheveled hair conceals bleeding gaps of torn scalp from whence cruel hands had torn away the lovely tresses. Broken, twisted hands clutched the wagon for support. Fractured fingers locked like groping claws to steady her broken body. All semblance of humanity gone. This was truly a demon, a bride of Satan, a witch.

I revere this Halloween crone and hold her sacred above all. I honor her courage and listen to her warnings of the dark side of humanity. Each year I shed tears of respect and remember her involuntary sacrifice in the name of religion.

Written by Angel, 6/99

This poem that reminds us of those who were persecuted as witches, though many were healers and midwives, women who owned land, and those who spoke out against the rules of the time. I don't know the name of the author, other than the name Angel. Other places may credit it to anonymous. If anyone who reads this happens to know who the author is I would love to know.

This poem is not in any way intended to "bash" Christianity, it is simply a reference to the history that is fact based.

With these things in mind I hope you will remember the Halloween Witch, along with all of the others who have gone before you.

Skywatch Friday

2010-10-29T17:42:00.004-04:00

We had to go pick up our dog's arthritis meds this morning, so daughter and I jumped in the car and off we went. It was soo cold! I still can't get warm. The sky shows what's on the way. I don't even want to think about it, but it appears winter is going to ruin Halloween this year.

If you want to see more gorgeous sky scenes, stop over at:
http://skyley.blogspot.com/ for all the links.

The History of Halloween

2010-10-28T17:44:00.003-04:00

Sunday is the one day of the year when the young and not-so-young get to let their true faces show during the only time it’s acceptable to be seen in costume and masks. Once again, it’s Halloween, or more accurately, Samhain (pronounced SOW-IN), which means summer’s end and is celebrated at the end of fall and beginning of winter. It was a final celebration of the harvest before the earth slumbered through winter. The day also marked the Celts’ version of the New Year and the time when they believed the dead came back to walk the earth once more. The holiday has been with us for centuries in various forms.

The day was a time to honor ancestors, but also ward off evil spirits by wearing costumes to confuse them. Turnips were carved with faces and placed in the windows to scare off the dead. People would go “a-souling.” They would pray for the household’s dead relatives in exchange for food and drink. In Scotland, the dead were impersonated by men who would wear all white and cover their faces with a veil.

Halloween as we know it today can be traced back to the early Christians. In the 800s, the Catholic Church wanted to wipe out pagan holidays and convert the heathens, so they would create a holy day to coincide with an established pagan festival. The Roman festivals of Feralia and Pomona’s Day were merged with Samhain and the new holiday replaced all three. Pomona’s day was a harvest festival in honor of the Roman Goddess of fruits and trees. This could explain where the tradition of bobbing for apples came from. Feralia was a day of mourning and remembering the dead.

Early Christians began celebrating All Saints Day on Nov. 1. They began their observance at sunset the night before. Some of the ways they celebrated were to dress in costumes of Christian saints to scare away the evil spirits and then they would go door-to-door, begging for food. Eventually, All Souls’ Day, which commemorated the dead who were not saints was added on Nov. 2. Soul cakes (currant buns) were given out when those celebrating went from house to house, offering to pray for their dead, similar to the a-souling.

Less than a century later, those two early Christian holidays merged into Hallow Time (Oct. 31-Nov. 2). Most of the celebrations took place the night before All Hallows Day on All Hallows Eve. Halloween quickly became the name.

Today, the holiday has grown so popular, it is second only to Christmas in the amount of money spent on decorations. Many Christian churches discourage their members from celebrating, saying it is evil; however, simply reading up on the history tells a different story.

Another hospital stay

2010-10-21T03:34:00.002-04:00

I'm back in the hospital, fighting a 2-week migraine. Was admitted on Tuesday. Of course, I never leave home without my handy dandy Droid, do I can at least pretend I'm normal.

Have an IV in my hand & get meds every few hours to keep the worst away. Mow we're waiting to hear from a neurologist in Pittsburgh to see if he'll accept a new patient as either in-patient or out-patient. Keep your fingers crossed and if you Have a minute, Please ask your deity to look kindly on me and break the pain.

I'll update this when we know more.

Thanks, everyone!

Camera Critters #132

2010-10-17T12:54:00.005-04:00

Once again, it's that time of week when I get to show off my favorite models - animals!!!

My choice for the day are several beauties from Pennsylvania's elk herd located in Benezette. This is the largest free ranging elk herd east of the Mississippi.

While I was there for the ribbon cutting on the brand new multi-million dollar elk viewing area, I found a buck and his harem of cows. They always strike me as the most beautiful animals when I see them. I never get tired of the magic of seeing these huge animals up close. I know they're wild and unpredictable, so I try to respect that and stay far enough away to just observe them and not try to turn them into petting zoo inhabitants.

If you want to see other examples of critters around the globe, just click on the following badge.

Old friends are better than gold

2010-10-10T17:56:00.003-04:00

We had lunch yesterday with old friends who we lost touch with almost a decade ago. The husband & wife were our dearest friends at the time. That's when the pain started to get impossible to deal with & I was put on strong meds.

I found Cheryl's email by luck & sent her a note. She responded immediately.

They Were in town for work - she's a DJ. She called & asked if we wanted to get lunch. Of course! Now, remember we hadn't seen them in a decade, but the conversation was like we never were apart. That shows what true friendship. I'll never lose her again. I realized how much she meant to me & how much we've missed when she hugged me.

Friendship is too valuable to give up on. It should be treasured.

Thank You, Cheryl & Jim! You've always been in my heart & always have a place there.

New elk viewing center ribbon cutting & Governor Ed Rendell

2010-10-07T07:19:00.006-04:00

Governor Ed Rendell was on hand to help celebrate the official opening of the elk viewing center located on Winslow Hill in Benezette. A standing room only crowd of local, State and federal officials as well as area residents packed into the new center to hear Rendell’s words prior to the ribbon cutting on Wednesday morning.

The 8,420-square-foot green building is located on 245 acres owned by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The building includes interactive interpretive exhibits, wildlife trails and viewing blinds, year-round restrooms and parking for cars and buses. Annual visitors to the new center are expected to reach 160,000 visitors per year by 2016. Today, visitors engaged in nature-based tourism, including elk viewing, spend an average of $138 per day. By 2012, daily expenditures for these visitors are projected to increase to nearly $200 per day. The center will both draw and extend the stay of visitors to the region, according to Rendell. The Commonwealth spent a total of $6 million to build the center and an additional $6 million was raised through private donations and management costs.

The inside displays open at 7:30 a.m. with the sensory-surround theatre opening at 8 a.m. It will present the story of the Penna. elk herd from the birth of new calves to fighting bulls during the rut. There are life-sized natural history display in the center’s main room portraying the interconnection of animals to their environment.

There are six elk viewing areas in the PA Wilds, which include three in the Benezette area with the other three dispersed around the region. “Our vision was two-fold. First, we can do something to help the economies of the counties in the PA Wilds. The second biggest potential is it centers around the elk watching and the beautiful, natural resources that the Lord has given Penna.,” Rendell said. “While most other States and regions have shown tourism is flat or declining, the PA Wilds has shown an increase in tourism. I think the best is yet to come. With this visitors’ center, I think people will flock here. People say I spent a lot of money as Governor, I wish we had money for the State to advertise in Washington D.C., Baltimore and New York City. When I was young, I know my dad would have loved to bring us here. I think if we had money to advertise, this could be a huge economic boom. I think the best is yet to come with the opening of the center.”

“When people in Penna. elected me, they said we elected a big city mayor. It’s interesting how an outsider sees things with different eyes,” Rendell said. “I came up in 2003 when we were formulating this idea. This is incredible. I have lived in Penna. for most of my adult life and I never knew how incredibly beautiful it was. I never knew there were more wild and natural areas than Rhode Island and Conn. Combined. I never knew any of that stuff. I think it’s so important that our children all over the country come and experience this. I remember coming up in 2003 during the mating season. Rawley (Cogan) took us to the woods. We stood out at the tree edge at dusk. I heard one of the most beautiful, ethereal sounds of my life. It was the mating call of the elk. I thought people had to come here, people have to experience this.”

Like always, Rendell showed why he is so popular. He posed for photos with anyone who asked and signed autographs with his Sharpie. Then he started teasing me about wearing Steeler colors to the event. He didn't mention it, but I suppose he's an Eagles' fan.

When he went outside to tour some of the viewing areas, he waited for me to get there and I was the only reporter walking with him and the other officials. When he saw me on the trail, he said, "There she is. Lets go." I have followed him around over the past few years and he always remembers me. Unlike most politicans in his position, he doesn't hide behind a ton of secret service/bodyguards. He had one with him. He wants to meet the people who elected him and have a chance to say good bye since he isn't running for re-election.
I'll miss him, but I imagine he'll still be involved in politics on some level.

As we were on our way home, we saw a few elk in a field. Of course, we stopped and I jumped out to photograph the beautiful animals. There was one bull elk along with his harem of about a dozen cows and several babies. If you've never had the thrill of seeing the animals, you're really missing out. Their size makes it impossible to believe any hunter who "accidently" kill them during hunting season, claiming they thought it was a deer. There is NO WAY that can happen. Even the calf would dwarf a white tailed deer.

New gaming fun for the entire family

2010-10-05T20:01:00.005-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE. All opinions are 100% mine.

My family loves to get together and play on our video game systems. I'm not the best when it comes to using some of the controllers out there. My 15-year old son gets a tad annoyed when we're playing a war game and I just go in circles, shooting myself in the foot because I can't figure out how to use the controller.

After checking out the new PlayStation Move, I think it would be perfect for our family. We already have a PlayStation 3, so the upgrade won't be that much additional money and it would be perfect to bring us all together for our regular family game night.The cost for the bundle pack is $99. That's about the cost for us to go out and see two movies and have dinner. The new games would be something we can use over and over again.

My children are older teenagers. Daughter is 18 and a senior in high school. Son is 15 and a sophmore. It's hard to convince them to be in the same room as each other most days, but I think having this would be a great way to work out their differences. While they will enjoy the war and other first-person shooter games, I'm looking forward to playing Brunswick Pro Bowling. I love bowling, but my health doesn't allow me to get out and participate anymore. Extreme Pinball also looks like something I'd enjoy. I'm sure having games that allow me to still participate in some of my favorite activities will help with my outlook on life.

This will be on my wishlist to Santa for this year!

Move

Elk Viewing Welcome Center

2010-10-05T19:42:00.003-04:00

The dream has become a reality and the new welcome center will hold it's official ribbon cutting in the morning. It will be a big deal, with government officials all the way to Gov. Ed Rendell attending. Of course, that means I will also be attending to photograph the event and write up an article about the speeches.

The hope is to alieve some of the traffic and give visitors a place to pull off and look for the elk without blocking the highway, trespassing on private property and many other ugly behaviours that have caused most long-time residents to have a slightly skewed feeling towards their famous residents.

Wordless Wednesday - Baseball Theme

2010-09-29T14:40:00.005-04:00

Deep, dark pain

2010-09-28T13:09:00.006-04:00

I was hoping that I had turned the corner. I was able to get out backpacking on Saturday and felt decent. The week before, I had the hideous pain and after a midnight run chasing State police to a man barracaded in his home with a gun (after a domestic incident), I got home and was in bad shape. Wasn't even able to write the follow up on it. I was out in pitch black, on dirt roads trying to get around a police barracade. No go. I ended up just leaving after an hour of trying.

Saturday was good. I probably hiked about 4 or 5 miles. Woke up Sunday and didn't want to move. The pain is even worse today. Don't know what to do to make it stop. All I want to do is crawl into a deep hole and pull it shut behind me. Besides the pain, there is the non-stop nausea. Last time it was like this, I lost 10 pounds in a week and ended up in the hospital with an IV stuck in the back of my hand. Can't do that again.

Weekend Reflections #6

2010-09-26T16:22:00.005-04:00

Another of my favorite photos memes is Weekend Reflections. This is my daughter in her kayak. This is one of our family activities. We are fortunate enough to have a river running right through town, so we are able to enjoy a wide variety of activites around the water.

If you'd like to see more photos, the link is on the badge.

Camera Critters #129

2010-09-26T16:00:00.003-04:00

Sunday is here again, so it must be time for my favorite photo meme - Camera Critters!

I think mascots count as critters, so my offering for this week is Ike the Spike (State College Spikes' mascot) with me at the last Thursday game of the season. The Spikes are a minor league baseball team. It was a good game, what I saw of it. I was on deadline and had to write up the coverage of an arson court case. I had my laptop and sat there for the first 4 innings writing.

If you want to see other examples of critters around the globe, just click on the following badge.

Backpacking to Scripture Rocks

2010-09-26T15:47:00.006-04:00

My brother came home for the weekend to visit and for something different to do, we decided to try out hands at geocaching. Well, that sucked, but the backpacking gave us lots of beautiful scenery.

We headed off to Brookville to try and find Scripture Rocks. Scripture Rocks are the result of years of religious zeal and a chisel. Well, probably many, many, chisels. Rock outcrops in this area are covered with literally thousands of lines of biblical scripture that have been carved into them nearly a century ago.

We never did find the cache. It's in an area that is party central. There were tons of beer bottles and several dog skulls (or at least I think they were dogs). Not far from that site, is an illegal dump with computers, TVs and other trash. So sad to see the beauty of the forest destroyed by unthinking mutants.

UPDATE: Thanks to an observant reader (Coy at Country Captures) who knows more about such things than I do, the skull is not a dog, but a white tailed deer - no doubt a doe.

We never did find the cache. No biggie. We found one of the trees covered with scripture and Randy, Todd & Arielle found a couple of the carved rocks. By the time we got to the area where the rocks were, I wasn't able to make the six plus-mile round trip. Mom & I ordered pizza and ran and picked it up while the others kept hiking. Besides the rocks, the trail had 17 severed heads for people to find. I saw two before we turned around.

I miss you, Michael

2010-09-22T12:33:00.003-04:00

Today should be a day of celebration. A day for our extended family to get together and celebrate our Michael's 22nd birthday. If only we could. Four years ago on March 3, he left this world after a car accident on his way to school that morning. Now all we can do is visit a grave.

Even though it's been over 4 years, I can still see the entire day and hear the screams. I would give anything to have just five more minutes with him. Just one more hug or to hear his voice again. I still expect to wake up from the nightmare. It can't be real! He was so young and full of life. Seventeen years just isn't enough time. He deserved so much more.

As if I could forget the day, Sweet Child of Mine woke me up today. That was played at his funeral. Our family was always close, but I think we're even closer now. We know how fast we can lose that vital link. I never let my children leave the house without a kiss, hug and an "I love you."

While I was out blasting Green Day and Rammstein on a power walk, I saw this gorgeous sky. It always reminds me that there is something more waiting. Not all believe, I'm not out to change anyone's belief system, just speak on mine. It's almost enough to allow us to see into the Summerland. So beautiful. So needed today when all I can see is the blackness.

Until we meet again, Michael, I'll love you forever and a day.

Weekend Reflections #5

2010-09-19T10:58:00.004-04:00

I took this photo at Sachs Bridge in Gettysburg. It's one of my favorite spots and I visit it at least once a summer.

I just discovered this meme and thought it would be fun to give a try. If you want to check out other photos, stop over at Weekend Reflections central (http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/)

Camera Critters #128

2010-09-19T10:37:00.004-04:00

Another week has flown by and it's time for my favorite mem, Camera Critters!

These photos were taken at Busch Gardens VA. They do lots of shows where visitors can interact with animals. This little owl was one of my favorites. The eagle was one they showed, but wouldn't allow the public a chance to hold it. Pity.

If you want to see animals from around the globe, stop by Camera Critters' main page and find nearly a hundred links.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-15T06:45:00.001-04:00

Camera Critters #127

2010-09-12T10:59:00.004-04:00

Another week has passed and it's time for the ever-popular Camera Critters meme. This week, I'll share another photo from our trip to Busch Gardens, VA. With yesterday being such an important day for America in a very bad way, I want to show our symbol that brings us together.

For more animals from around the globe, pop over to Camera Critters headquarters. Just click on the badge below and you'll be automatically directed to the page.

My 9-11 Story

2010-09-11T13:57:00.003-04:00

Where were you when the towers came down? How about when the Pentagon was hit? When the plane came down in Shenksville, Penna.? Did you watch it live on TV or were you in NYC, Washington D.C. or Penna.?

I'll never forget my day for so many reasons. I had just put the kids on the school bus and my dad stopped in after walking the dogs. I didn't even have the TV on that morning for whatever reason.

We were just walking out the door when the phone rang. It was my cousin screaming about attacks. What? Whose attacking what? Turn on the TV. OK. Dad and I just sat there in silence, watching, stunned as the second tower was hit and then as they both fell. Who would do that? This is America! Nobody can touch us here. I think more than a few people had their eyes opened that day when true evil entered our collective psyche.

I drove Dad home and came back and started trying to reach my in-laws who were on a bus trip to Atlantic City, NJ. Couldn't reach them all day and I was more than a bit worried.

My MIL finally called us that afternoon to say that FIL had been rushed to the hospital with heart problems. She was in tears, all alone. Don't come, I'll be ok. Wrong answer! Hubby had just started a new job and couldn't go, so I ran to my parents' house and asked Mom if she wanted to take a road trip. She thought I was out of my mind until I told her why. She called her boss and said we had to go. We threw a few things in a bag and off we went. I had just been hired as a staff reporter, my dream job, but family is more important. If worse came to worse and I was fired over that, I can say, "Do you want fries with this?"

It was so quiet on the Interstate that night, very few cars or trucks. It was obvious that something was wrong. There were signs up all over warning that NYC was closed because an "incident." We had no idea what to expect as we got closer and closer to NJ. Would there be more attacks? Was it even safe to be that close to NYC? We stopped around midnight at a roadside hotel to get a few hours of sleep, then took off for Widwood, NJ (right outside of Atlantic City).

When we get there, we thought we'd be bringing FIL home the next morning. We were there three or four days. They wanted him to have heart surgery there, but MIL decided to bring him home to have it.

As I was standing on the beach on 9/12, just watching the ocean, it hit me. My 9-year old daughter had said we would be on the beach that day. A few days before, she had said that and I just laughed. There was no way we could be on the beach. School had just started and Hubby's new job certainly wouldn't let us take a fun trip for sand and surf, but she was right, there I stood. How did she know? She's done things like that before, but this time was unmistakeable.

Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode #9

2010-09-10T14:13:00.004-04:00

Here's my entry for this week's Skywatch Friday. This is a beautiful sky over little Round Top in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Little Round Top is the smaller of two rocky hills south of Gettysburg. It was the site of an unsuccessful assault by Confederate troops against the Union left flank on July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Considered by some historians to be the key point in the Union Army's defensive line that day, Little Round Top was defended successfully by the brigade of Col. Strong Vincent. The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, commanded by Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, fought the most famous engagement there, culminating in a dramatic downhill bayonet charge that is one of the most well-known actions at Gettysburg and in the American Civil War.

If you want to see more gorgeous sky scenes, stop over at:
http://skyley.blogspot.com/ for all the links.

HorrorFind 12 in Gettysburg the Wrap Up

2010-09-06T08:36:00.010-04:00

Well, the convention is over and I'm almost home. At least I'm half way there. I should be home by tonight and can't wait to see my hubby and kids. They are driving to pick me up since I can't drive. Do you realize how inconvenient it is to not be able to drive? I have to rely on my 18-year old daughter to take me places or catch rides with others going. Makes me feel even worse.

The headaches are now constant and I'm on new medicine to try and combat it. Usually, I can at least tolerate things, but today, it feels like a knife has been wedged into my neck and another red hot poker is being slammed repeatedly into my left temple. Such are the joys of my day.

So, the final day of HorrorFind was less hectic. We had met all the celebs we were interested in the first two days, so we were able to just walk around and watch the other fans and take photos. That's my favorite part. I did buy a new series of zombie books from their author Kim Paffenroth. He kindly autographed the two books as well as a mousepad he gave me and posed for a photo. I started reading the first book as we were walking around, but had to stop when I just wanted to stand in one spot and finish the book. I'll have it done in a day or two, depending on the level of pain. Sadly, reading makes things worse.

One of my brother's friends had kidney surgery and wasn't able to go with us. One of her favorite actors was there and my brother asked him if he could possibly say a few words to the video camera for his friend. Instead, he offered to talk to her on the phone, if that were possible. Terrence Zdunich starred in Repo the Genetic Opera. When he handed my brother back the phone, his friend was still screaming and hyperventalating. She couldn't believe he would do that for her. I'll tell you, I haven't seen the movie, but that man has another fan for life in me. Any celeb who would take time out of his day to call a sick girl deserves my admiration.

Another very nice celeb was Doug Bradley who played Pinhead on Hellraiser. Any fans out there of the cube? He was happy to pose for photos, so I had one taken.

Again Gary Busey wasn't really available at his table and Jake was no where to be found while we were there. No loss, for even though I might enjoy their movies, I can't imagine paying $20 just to have a photo taken with them or of them. I noticed not many people did in the three days.

Diamond Dallas Paige, yes the pro wrestler, was there. He was in Rob Zombie's movie The Devil's Rejects. He was very animated that day and was signing postcards for free. They describe his workout plan and he showed me some of the people who had done it and the unreal changes in their lives. It's called YRG Fitness System. I have no idea what the cost is. He didn't require payment for that autograph or for a photo with him. Another really nice guy.

Has anyone seen the movie The Human Centepede? Well, three of the stars were there. I saw the trailer and it made me nautious, so I haven't gotten the nerve to watch the movie yet. Brother is laughing since I can watch most horror movies while eating a nice medium rare steak. In fact, when we got back to his place, I finished my steak from dinner while we watched the Italian classic Zombie. Back to the stars of this movie. They were very friendly to everyone and even gave a response to what Tosh.0 said about their movie. My brother is sending it to the show. He really slammed the movie, so we're thinking he'll use the promo.

The dealers' room had quite a variety of items to purchase and make up artists were avialble to turn people into the walking dead. I didn't have that done because we had a two hour drive ahead of us and I imagine I'd be talking to some nice men in blue if I walked into a convenience store to get a bottle of water with blood and bruises covering my fave and hands. :)

While there were some serious problems with the convention, it was mainly how some of the staff acted. I've already addressed that in another post and won't go into it again here. Most of the staff were great and helpful. We did enjoy the convention and found it incredibly convenient to be staying in the same hotel as the show. The cost of admission was nothing compared to other shows I've covered and written about. I can get over some of the rude staff because the celebs were good. I just hope they think about finding a decent place for their costume contest/auction where people aren't turned away and treated so poorly.

Camera Critters #126

2010-09-05T18:32:00.005-04:00

Welcome to another edition of Camera Critters. My entry for today is our kitten Athena who will soon be allowed to add the Darth to her name and her prey ... er ... friends Rube and Yuri. One of her favorite activities is to sit on top of Yuri's cage and bat the glass. When she gets bored with that, she goes to Rube. He has the traditional cage with bars and she can touch him when he's in the mood to play. Yuri and Athena are friends, they do play together often. Yuri will stand on the top of his house and touch the roof, which has holes in it for air to get in. I've seen him poking at Athena, so she'll start licking at the cage. When he's on the floor of his cage, he'll put his wee teeny hands on the side of the cage and Athena will put her paws there, too. It's obvious it's deliberate because I've caught them doing it a lot. Too funny to see a cat and hamster playing. :)

If you want to see more animals from around the globe, stop by Camera Critters Central at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

If you're here to see and read more about HorrorFind's convention, I'll be adding more photos and a wrap up article later today.

Second day of HorrorFind

2010-09-04T23:36:00.005-04:00

Today was the second day of three at the HorrorLinkFind Weekend 12 convention in Gettysburg. It was a lot different from yesterday. The celeb room was packed. It was hard to even move around. Dee Wallace was again so sweet and friendly, I think I now have new favorite actress! She remembered us and was happy to let me give my hubby a special gift. Can't tell what since he reads this.

Today was the costume contest and auction. The people in charge didn't think it through. The place it was held was a small room in the movie theater. There were probably 400-500 people turned away. It's things like that that people won't return because of. The "STAFF" weren't very nice. They were pretty arrogant about it. When the convention was so huge to begin with, they should have known better and moved the contest. Everyone wanted to see Bruce Campbell. The fans were so disappointed and the staff couldn't have cared less. Nothing was offered to the fans who were turned away. When a few were at the back of the building to take photos while the costume contest was going on, the untrained staff again showed their true colors.

We will be leaving tomorrow afternoon. We have to go visit Devil's Den and the witness tree while we're here. I can't be this close and not go. I'm sure others have been in the same boat. Brother doesn't mind and he's driving. He hasn't been here in about a decade. He was here one time with Randy, Dad, the kids and me. I'd like to start this as an annual event.

Better get back to working on photos!

Back to Gettysburg

2010-09-04T02:18:00.005-04:00

I’m in Gettysburg, PA for the weekend and already it’s made me want to just stay for the rest of my life. I was just here in August for our 22nd anniversary. Randy couldn’t make it this weekend, so I caught a ride with my brother. There are quite a few people dressed up in costume.

We’re at the HorrorFind convention. It’s a horror get-together. There are so many celebs to sign autographs and post for photos. Todd got his photo taken with quite a few stars today. I only got one – Dee Wallace. Yes, the mom on ET. She had quite a few nice 8x10 photos, either color or black and white. I chose a photo of her and Jake Busey from the Frightners. Busey is also at this convention. Everyone is
charging between $15 and $30 per item signed. If you buy a photo or whatever, they will usually agree to take a photo. She is selling a few DVDs and other things on that line, but my absolute favorite is a booty panty and a thong. They have either Cujo or The Howling. I got one of each. Even though she autographed them to me, I think that Randy will be enjoying them just as much.

We had gone downtown for a bit, just to look around since he hasn’t been here in about 10 years. Of course, we got tickets to go on a ghost hunt. I was a little leery about that after the awful experience we had with a ghost hunt last month. We did go and it was one of the best tours in any State I’ve travelled in. They didn’t fake a thing or try and trick people. They gave us the full 2 hours after passing out the ghost hunting tools. We were right next to Culp’s Hill and I got a few nice photos.

Tomorrow, we’re starting bright and early for a Q&A with George Romero. Yes, the father of zombies!! Then there’s a movie being screened for the first time. Then we’ll go back to the dealers’ room to pick up a few things and to the celeb room and get autographs of ones who we missed today. Must get Adriene Barbeau & Kristy Swanson for sure. Kristy brought along steaks to sign. Too funny. Of course, I’ll have to get one.

I had to lie down and take a nap because the day took too much out of me. The food in the hotel restaurant is out of this world. Todd and I both agreed we’d be eating there again on Saturday.

Gary Busey is at the show, but doesn't spend much time at his table, he's usually walking around with a drink of some sort or another in his hand. He and his son charge $30 for an autograph while most everyone else is at $20, plus Gary demands payment to even have a photo taken of him. Well, being a reporter, I find that repulsive, so here's my freebie!

Until tomorrow …

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-01T21:17:00.003-04:00

First Day of School

2010-08-26T14:20:00.006-04:00

Today was a day we knew was coming, but somehow it ended up sneaking up on us. Of course, I'm talking about the first day of school. How is it possible that summer is over already? Doesn't seem even possible that our days of getting up, throwing a bag in the car and taking off are over for another 10 months. I also lose my freedom of going places that I can't walk. Not being able to drive because of health reasons is pure torture. I'm not old enough to have to live like this. I can't drive because of the meds, but can't live without the meds. It's a vicious circle and I don't see a way out of it.

My beautiful daughter is a senior in high school this year. She's getting ready to start her own life and is using this year to learn all she can about being a young woman. We're giving her a more freedom to make her own decisions about life, but are still here to keep her from making some of the same mistakes we've made, well, that I made growing up. I never want her to go through the same pain I did. We're teaching her about taking care of herself and an apartment as well as balancing a checkbook and managing money. She has found her first job and is really happy there. It's just entry level dishwasher at a local resteraunt, but we all start somewhere! She is thinking of being a chef, so she does need to learn the business from the bottom up.

My handsome son is a sophmore this year. He really shot up over the summer and is close to 6 feet tall now. He's part of the academically gifted program in school. Sadly, that program isn't given priority. How do I know? They're on their 4th or is it 5th teacher in so many years. The superintendent called the kids (and I quote) "Elitest, little snobs!" Can you believe it? I have a few words to describe him, but try to keep this blog PG and won't put them. He doesn't believe the program is necessary and is out to destroy it. The kids in that program are the district's best and brightest and need the extra challenge. If we lose their drive, we lose a generation of the doctors, researchers, astronaughts, computer programmers and teachers. Do we really want those positions to be filled by C-average students? Of course, I'm not afraid to go toe-to-toe with ANYONE who messes with my kids, so he and I are far from friends. He called me "Nothing but a trouble maker." I need to have a tee shirt made with that in big letters. If caring about my children and doing everything in my power to see they have a wonderful life makes me a trouble maker, then I'm proud to wear that title.

There's no excuse for the things he said and did his first year in the position. We're a small, rural area and he came from a city. Things run different here and he thinks he knows better than those of us who were born and raised here. These are OUR KIDS and we know best. We chose to raise our families here, not because we're being paid entirely too much money as some I could name.

Enough of him. He's not worth anymore of my thoughts.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-25T21:55:00.002-04:00

Interviewing Bob Casey Jr.

2010-08-25T21:00:00.004-04:00

US Senator Bob Casey Jr. was in the area yesterday to campaign for a State Representative hopeful Frank Straub. Of course, I had to be there to photograph it and write the article for the paper. My mother and daughter went with. (I'm not allowed to drive because of health)

I had met Casey before he was elected and interviewed him extensively on the campaign bus. He's a very nice guy and happy to sign anything when he was campaigning and I was hoping he was still the same after being elected. I had made a scrapbook page to remember the interview. I brought it with and my daughter had him sign it to me. He commented on the photo and asked where it came from because he never saw it before. I reminded him of where and he remembered talking to me.

When I was taking photos to go with my article, he kept commenting that I had the only real camera in the room. The other newspaper photographers weren't pleased to hear that, but it's true. My camera is a pro model Nikon D200 with the extra battery pack and a massive flash that rivals the run for brightness. :) He posed for photos with me when my daughter took the camera.

Political rallies are a good place to get politicians' autographs. Anyone else collect political memorabilia? I picked up campaign buttons and will use the stickers to make another scrapbook page for Straub.

Pirahna 3D -- Review

2010-08-22T20:12:00.005-04:00

Arielle and I have always loved to watch bad B-movies on SyFy, so when we saw the trailers for Pirahna 3D, we knew it was a movie we had to go see.

We had some free time yesterday, so off we went for a girls night out. We picked up a few things, including a light jacket for each of us since hubby won't let me keep hoodies in the car.

We get to the theater a couple minutes after the movie started, picked up popcorn and pop and settled into our seats. There had to have been at least 15 minutes of commercials. (I'm paying for this??) Soon the cheesy goodness began and kept up for the rest of the movie. :) Guys, there is plenty of T & A and full frontal nudity. Moms, it's probably not a movie to take the kiddies to.

The feeding frenzy of the pirahna wasn't as gory as it could have been. Finding the chewed up corpses was nasty.

We laughed and laughed throughout the entire movie. I'm not sure that's what the director was aiming for when he made it, but how can anyone take it seriously?

I so want this bag!

2010-08-22T19:31:00.006-04:00

Gerry of Gerry's Soap N Stuff is holding a contest for a gorgeous bag. As everyone knows, I'm completely addicted to purses. I have many in a variety of shapes, styles and colors. Some designer, some knock offs, some homemade and some just found. I don't have one this shape or color.

src="http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/Jo57/gerrybutton.jpg">

Camera Critters #124

2010-08-22T18:52:00.006-04:00

During our Virginia trip in early July, we spent a day at Water Country, which is part of the Busch Gardens experience. I'm not a big fan of water parks and am afraid to ride the tubes, so for me, it's all about taking photos of my family. At this park, they have several animals and I wanted to share them with my friends.

If you want to see more beautiful, funny and sweet animal photos, pop over to http://camera-critters.blogspot.com

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-18T11:14:00.002-04:00

Gettysburg Vacation

2010-08-17T12:13:00.009-04:00

As anyone who reads here regularly knows, I have a deep love of the town of Gettysburg in the Southern portion of Pennsylvania. Randy and I have spent our anniversary there every year for the past several years. I just can't get enough. It's one of those things I'll never be able to explain fully, but when I get there, it feels like I'm "home." We arrived there Wednesday, August 11 and left after breakfast on Saturday, the 14th. It's never long enough for me. We visited our favorite spots, including: Sachs Bridge, the Pennsylvania Memorial, Devil's Den and the Virginia Memorial featuring Gen. Robert E. Lee and his horse Traveller, as well as trying new things during our stay. We toured the Jenny Wade house, did a ghost hunt and took a battlefield bus tour with a professional guide, all for the first time.

We tried a new bed and breakfast - The Dobbin House at 89 Steinwehr Avenue - this year. We love the food and the rooms looked gorgeous, so we stayed our three nights, had our lunch in their downstairs tavern one day and had dinner in the library for our anniversary night. The food was incredible! I'm sure I had to have gained at least a couple pounds. To show you how friendly the people are in the area, the couple seated beside us at dinner wanted to buy us a glass of champagne in honor of our 22nd anniversary. I can't drink alcohol, so we had to decline, but it meant a lot to be asked. We're complete strangers and had just made small talk with them. I'm sorry I didn't get their names.

After dinner, we walked to our room and saw a horse-drawn carriage in the parking lot. We have always wanted to take one of those trips, so we asked the driver to wait until we changed. I really enjoyed that ride. When it was over, we went out to Devil's Den to sit and reflect until the park closed at 10 p.m.

We went on two ghost walks and a ghost hunt at a near-by abandoned house. The group had all sorts of neat toys to play with. Even though we didn't get so much as a photo of an orb (or dust mite), it was still a fun way to spend an hour. The ghost hunt was scheduled to be from 12-2 a.m. on Friday the 13th. The group was late starting it and it took too long to hand out the toys and drive there. By the time we got to the house, it was already 1 a.m. and we had to be out by 2. The other major problem with the hunt was they had way too many people. There were 32 of us. With four "lead investigators", we were split into two groups of 16 each, with two pros. There was the house and barn to check out. The only remotely eekk filled moment for me was when the bat buzzed me in the barn. The group didn't really help the newbie hunters, so most of the time, we looked like a mob. I want to give the pros the benefit of the doubt and say they didn't realize how hard it would be to investigate with that may people and not just the money (most expensive in Gettysburg) they were receiving from each person.

The house hadn't been lived in for seven years, after the last two family members died in the home, so it was in bad shape. The floors and ceiling were in horrid shape and I'm not sure how safe it was for that many people to be walking around in it. One of the pros told Randy and me to make sure not to be in the attic with more than 5 people for that very reason. Bad part, they forgot to let everyone else know the same info. The steps to the basement were in bad shape. The equipment I had measured electrical charges. In one room, it went crazy. OK, the pro came running. I explained why it was going off - the wall was where the power came into the house. The woman in charge was also excited, until I explained that, too.

When the hunt was over, they did a quick debriefing and gave us each a nice printed certificate for participating. That was a nice touch. One of the other women on the hunt was excited because she had the same reaction from her equipment and was sure it was paranormal. The woman in charge explained what had happened. That was something some groups would never had done, they debunked. The hunter didn't want to believe it and left sure she had found something paranormal.

We were up and ready to leave early Saturday morning. After breakfast, we headed off to Ohio to see my best friend and finish up our trip. I'll be back in Gettysburg over the Labor Day weekend for the HorrorFind Convention. Of course, I'll be on the battlefields as much as possible. My daughter is a high school senior this year and I'm taking her senior photos while we're visiting. I can't imagine a better backdrop than Devil's Den or Big Round top at sunrise or sunset.

Camera Critters #116

2010-06-27T14:26:00.006-04:00

After far too long, I'm back on line. Can't spend hours on here anymore because it sets off violent migraines. I've always loved this photo meme and want to get started posting weekly for it.

My entry for this week is our newest baby. She was an 18th birthday present for my daughter from one of her godmothers. She is the sweetest little girl, but lives up to her name - Athena. She is truly a master huntress! She stalks Darth Mittens and Aphrodite. She'll hide under the desk or a chair and when one of us will walk by, she immediately pounces on our feet and start nibbling. KITTENS!!! We do love her very much. She's been with us since Memorial Day and has added much laughter, love and fun to our lives.

She carries a juice bottle cap around in her mouth and will play soccer with it for hours.

What a great contest!

2010-06-18T18:10:00.002-04:00

I found the cutest contest on Witch Blog and wanted to let everyone have a chance to win (even though I REALLY want this one).

@Wizardandwitch has a blog giveaway! Win a string/voodoo doll courtesy of @String_Doll. Enter here http://bit.ly/dg7dnZ

Read Stephanie Meyer's newest vampire novel for FREE!!!

2010-06-07T21:29:00.003-04:00

I spend as much time on-line as the migraines allow. Staring at the laptop screen too long causes a huge migraine. During my travels around the globe today, I found a site offering the newest book in the Twilight series for free! It's legit and the writer agreed to it as a gift to her fans.

The book is called The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. It's only going to be available until July 15, so go check it out while it's still available. The book is about one of the newborn vampires created to fight the Cullen's family during the Eclipse novel. I've started to read it and will buy the book in hardback as soon as I can get to a store that sells books. I have all her novels in hardback and don't plan to stop anytime soon. :)

To reach the site, simply click HERE

Athena has arrived!

2010-06-02T21:10:00.004-04:00

I wanted to introduce our newest family member - Athena. She's named for the Goddess of wisdom and war.

We swore NO MORE PETS!!! Everyone knew that. Well, we were at my aunt's farm and my cousin told Arielle, "Happy early birthday" and handed her this adorable little Smokey grey kitten. Aaarrrggghhh! I said to ask Randy and he caved.

Athena is fitting in well. Aphrodite just ignores her, but the evil Darth Mittens is another story. She hisses and growls at us and the kitten. She thinks she's punishing me by not letting me hold her. Ha Ha the Jokes on her. I'm sure she'll get over it once she realizes she now has an apprentice to teach the dark side of the force. ;) That's when we will truly face the wrath of Darth Mittens!

Will add a photo when I start up my laptop in the morning. Can't seem to get the Droid to do that. All it says is Uploads Disabled. Anyone know why?

My update

2010-06-02T20:44:00.004-04:00

The current year us almost finished. My kids gave to go in for one HOUR tomorrow. Now, does that make any sense? Think of all the wasted time, energy, gas, etc... I'm sure there's a sane reason for it, but I can't think of any right now.

My daughter turns 18 on Sunday. Where did all those years go? Seems like only yesterday she was a baby. She brought home paperwork showing the requirements for all seniors.That scares me. I'm so not ready. Soon we'll have to start looking at colleges. She's interested in fashion design. She gas a lit of talent. I'll post a photo of the Sundress she made herself. She also created two very unique purses for me. I love them and always get tons of complements on them. Will also post a photo of them.

My son will be 16 in November and he will be a sophomore. My babies are growing up so fast and are ready to stretch their wings. We encourage both of them to try new things, but let them know we are always behind them. I think that's what most teens want. They may whine and moan about rules, but deep down they want the safety net of being able to use curfew or whatever to keep them out of some situations with their friends they aren't ready for. What are your thoughts on it? Am I right or just fooling myself?

Doc has me on two more meds to try and get the pain under control. Not helping so far, but I'll keep trying.

Hope all my American friends had a wonderful Memorial weekend. We did the family BBQ at my aunt's farm. Tons of food and being around my family is always a good time. The newest generation in our family is now a year old and is the sweetest little girl. She's always smiling and jabbers up a storm.

I've gone mobile

2010-05-24T09:49:00.003-04:00

I truly love my purple Dell laptop and drag it everywhere, but some days it isn't convenient to post from. I finally figured out how to post from my Droid, so my posts will be current again.

I can post from any doctor's office, clinic or hospital I happen to be in at the moment. Hopefully, my posts from fun trips will outweigh medical ones.

Now I just need to figure out how to enable the photo upload feature. Anyone else using a Droid? I would appreciate the help.

I'm still alive

2010-05-08T17:29:00.004-04:00

I just realized how badly I've crawled into the dark hole that has become my life thanks to these migraines. I love blogging and haven't even looked on here in months. I have a new doc now who believes that pain does exist and he is helping me to find my life again.

I'll slowly get back here and will start posting again. Thank you for all the kind comments you've sent over the past months. It's nice to know I've been missed. :)

My daughter went to her first prom last weekend and I had a photo of us taken before she left. She is my mini-me! :)

My first and no doubt last pro football game

2009-12-12T14:10:00.008-05:00

It all started out with such high hope. I managed to score tickets to see the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday night. Hubby is a die-hard Steelers fan, so I thought going to a game would be a good way to thank him for all he has to do for me. Big mistake, but we'll get to that in a minute.

As everyone who knows me realizes, we have spent way too much time in Cleveland over the past year with me at the Cleveland Clinic. Our memories of the town are me having needles stuck into my arms and having medicine pushed in. Nausea and pain were constant companions. I'm a tiny person and my health is pretty bad. I had layers of clothes on me and even bought an extra scarf, just to be sure. I thought I was prepared. Everyone said how bad the fans are, but I truly didn't expect what happened.

We pack up the cooler, my cameras to meet my cousin and off we go to Cleveland. Got there early for tailgating. They assure me it's very important for the whole experience. OK, I'll try it. It was SOOOO cold, I lost feeling in my feet and fingers after just a few minutes. It was so cold, the wind cut through and froze us from the bone marrow out. Truly not fun. Little did I know that would be the best part of the trip.

Browns' fans stumbled by our lean to, most completely sloshed. When they saw my cousin's Steelers' jacket, they began swearing and screaming at us that our team (as well as our mothers) do some truly impossible sex acts. We just ignored them, why add fuel to the fire? More friends met up with us. We had four adult men, two adult women and four teenagers.

When it was time to go to the stadium, we stopped by the porta potty. A completely drunk "man" started screaming and swearing that we had no right to even use that, it was just for Browns' fans. He was right in the face of the other adult woman. He was literally spitting in her face. What is wrong with people?

From there, it just got worse. We walked to the stadium and it was like running the gauntlet of "A@@holes", "F Yous" and other sweet nothings. All this over a sporting event? Scary. We get into the stadium and as we walk up to our seats, I see a security guard and ask if it's safe to go there since we happen to have seats in the Dawg Pounds, where the worst of the fans congregate. I explained what we had gone through and he just laughed and said if I feel bad, to come and find him. Yeah, right!

We get to our seats and wait for the game to start. I wasn't able to stand up at all by this point, so I'm there wrapped in blankets and not moving. We can see everything perfectly and are hoping for a good game. The ones who had the seats in front of us get there and everything changes. They STAND the entire first half. When they aren't drinking and dumping beer on themselves, they are dirty dancing, making out and screaming filthy sexual comments to each other. SIGH!

My cousin happens to be a cop. He went down to the bathroom and had scores of degenerates up in his face threatening him. He asked a cop who was there if he was going to do anything. This "PEACE KEEPER" told him if he didn't get back to his seat, he would be arrested. He had NO RIGHT to even be in Cleveland. Can you believe it? He came back to our seats and asked if we were ready to go. Of course, I was. The first half had just ended.

I was in tears by that point, but didn't let on what happened. It was have caused a huge brawl, so I'm practically carried out to the van, then let them know I was kneed in the back while we were in the seats. I wasn't dressed like a Steelers' fan. I had on New Moon hat and scarf, a blue jacket and was wrapped in an Edward and fairy blankets. There was no reason in the world to hurt me. Guess the brave one who did it figured I was the best to take on. :(

I have never in my life experienced the kind of hate and ignorance that went on during that day. It completely ruined the experience for me and I have no desire to EVER go to another game. If that is what people who live in Cleveland are truly like, I weep for their future.

OK, I admit it, I'm a Twi-Hard

2009-11-17T17:39:00.005-05:00

Not that it is any big surprise to anyone who regularly reads here, but it became clear today. Burger King has a new promotion to tie in with the release of New Moon. They have special photo cards available when you buy their six pack of mini burgers. They also have New Moon cups, crowns and four different photo gift cards.

No problem, right? Well, not if you happen to live in a town with a BK. That does not include me. The nearest one is almost an hour away. I very rarely drive anymore thanks to the migraines and all the meds and never drive more than to the grocery store downtown and back. However, I couldn't con anyone into taking me, so when Trevor got home from school, I promised to get him a new video game if he went along for the ride.

Off we went and I am now the proud owner of all the neato new New Moon swag that BK has to offer. You need to order their special water bottles on line and I did that last week. Hopefully, they'll be here soon.

The movie will be released at midnight on Thursday. I have to cover a meeting over an hour away. I'm trying to figure out a way to get out of there in time, write the article as we drive back, find a place with wi fi to send it to the paper and still make it to the movie for the midnight showing. I know, I may look into a 12-step program, but not this week. :)

How far are you willing to go for your addictions? Obviously, my inner fangirl has no boundries.